Trump gives EU until July 4 to ratify deal or face tariff hike

US president said he gave EU chief Ursula von der Leyen ‘until our Country’s 250th Birthday’ or tariffs would jump to ‘much higher levels’

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the European Union must ratify its trade deal with the United States by July 4 or face “much higher” tariffs, after European officials fell short of agreement on the pact.

The US president said he spoke to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen about the issue and “agreed to give her until our Country’s 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels”.

The Fourth of July holiday this year marks 250 years since the American colonies declared independence from British rule.

The 27-member EU bloc and the United States struck a deal last July setting tariffs on most EU goods at 15 per cent, but a final version of the pact still needs to be agreed by member states - prompting frustration in Washington.

Trump vowed last week to raise duties on EU cars and trucks to 25 per cent, accusing the bloc of failing to comply with the deal.

Cyprus, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, said it wanted to maintain “positive momentum” at talks with MEPs on May 19.