No Deal in Sight: Brussels Reportedly Prepares to Push Future EU-US Trade Talks Beyond July 9

As Washington's tariff hammer is about to fall, Brussels not only refuses to compromise at the negotiating table but has also prepared countermeasures targeting over $100 billion worth of U.S. goods. The tension in this transatlantic trade war is becoming unprecedentedly intense.

On June 11, media reports indicated that despite accelerated negotiations over the past week, the EU believes trade talks with the U.S. may extend beyond President Trump's July 9 deadline.

According to informed sources, the EU considers reaching a principled agreement by July 9 as the best-case scenario, with specific details requiring further negotiations.

This stance is effectively a soft counter to Trump's tariff threats - even facing a 50% punitive tariff, the EU is unwilling to rush into a compromise at the negotiating table.

Not only is the EU refusing to compromise in negotiations, but it has also prepared countermeasures covering $100 billion worth of U.S. goods.

As previously reported by Wall Street News, EU Commission spokesperson Olof Gill explicitly warned that if no agreement is reached, existing and additional countermeasures would take effect no later than July 14.

EU Refuses to Compromise at the Negotiating Table

Reports indicate that over the past week, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic has been making frequent phone calls and face-to-face meetings with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Currently, both sides are engaged in in-depth discussions on several key areas, including steel and aluminum, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and civil aviation, while also exploring issues related to tariff and non-tariff barriers.

However, informed sources caution that despite the positive atmosphere of the negotiations, significant challenges remain. The EU believes the U.S. is seeking unilateral concessions, and any agreement would likely tilt in Washington's favor, presenting an asymmetrical outcome.

As part of a proposal submitted to the U.S. at the end of last month, the EU suggested intermediate steps such as quotas to gradually achieve zero tariffs on automobiles, industrial goods, and non-sensitive agricultural products. These negotiations have since accelerated.

The EU Commission hopes to address the Trump administration's concerns over non-tariff barriers by simplifying regulatory rules. However, the EU remains firm on the issue of regulatory autonomy, asserting that any U.S. demands undermining the EU's autonomy in regulation and taxation remain red lines.

EU's $100 Billion Countermeasure List Ready for Action

Reports state that if no agreement is reached by the July deadline, the U.S. will impose a 50% tariff on nearly all EU export goods. This move is likely to trigger retaliatory measures from the EU.

According to EU estimates, the Trump administration's current tariffs cover approximately €380 billion ($434 billion) worth of EU exports to the U.S., accounting for about 70% of total exports.

The EU's countermeasures targeting over $100 billion worth of U.S. goods are divided into two tiers: The first round of approved tariffs covers €21 billion worth of U.S. goods, precisely targeting politically sensitive regions, including soybeans from House Speaker Mike Johnson's home state of Louisiana, as well as agricultural products, poultry, and motorcycles.

The more damaging second-round list targets €95 billion worth of U.S. products, focusing on industrial goods such as Boeing aircraft, U.S.-made cars, and bourbon whiskey. These measures are a direct response to the Trump administration's so-called "reciprocal tariffs" and automobile tariffs.