Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – According to a person familiar with the negotiations, the U.S. government did not send a letter to the European Union demanding that nations submit their best offer on trade negotiations by Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Trump reinstated a July 9 deadline to let Washington and Brussels continue their discussions after speaking with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. Whether the letter had been forwarded to the negotiation partners was not immediately apparent.
A spokesman for the European Commission refused to elaborate on the papers and offers that were shared during the trade negotiations between the US and the EU.
“What we can say is that following the recent call between Presidents von der Leyen and Trump, both sides agreed to accelerate the pace of talks,”
The spokesperson stated, pointing to discussions this week with the technical teams in the US and an upcoming meeting between European Union trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic and U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer in Paris.
Why did Trump reverse course on trade talks?
Trump established a 90-day window for trade negotiations between the US and the EU in early April, with a deadline of July 9. However, he reversed that timeline on Friday, declaring that he had no interest in a deal.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, informed Trump on Sunday that the EU needed more time to reach a deal, and Trump, who has frequently voiced contempt for the EU and its trade policies against the United States, gave in.
According to those involved with the negotiations, Washington has demanded unilateral concessions from Brussels in order to open up to U.S. industry, while the EU is looking for a deal that would benefit both parties. As a result, the discussions have stalled. When Trump’s 90-day suspension ends in July, the EU will be subject to 25% U.S. import duties on steel, aluminium, and automobiles, as well as 10% so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly all other imports.
