Trump sets July 4 deadline for EU to approve trade deal or face higher tariffs

President Donald Trump said in a Thursday social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last years trade framework by July 4.

President Donald Trump said in a Thursday social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4. Trump made the announcement after what he described as a ''great call'' with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalise the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks. ''A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!'' Trump posted. ''I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels.''