Trump’s “Liberation Tariffs” End Wednesday, EU Faces New Threat

Donald Trump’s “liberation tariffs” pause ends this Wednesday for over 60 countries, and simultaneously, the EU faces a new, direct threat: a 17% tariff on its food and farm produce exports. This aggressive move targets popular European goods like Belgian chocolate, Irish Kerrygold butter, and Mediterranean olive oil, which are major sellers in the US.
The warning was reportedly conveyed to EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič during high-level talks in Washington with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other officials. This aligns with Trump’s consistent “aggressive negotiating position,” as he aims to extract concessions from trading partners.
Despite the looming deadline and threats, EU trade spokesperson Olof Gill confirmed that the bloc continues to “favour a negotiated solution” and that “progress was made towards an agreement in principle” in recent discussions. However, the EU is also making robust preparations for a potential trade war, with retaliatory duties on various US products, including Bourbon and Boeing 747s, if a deal isn’t reached before Wednesday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized the pragmatic goal of a high-level framework deal, acknowledging the limited time for a comprehensive agreement. The EU is also seeking immediate tariff relief for critical sectors, particularly the auto industry, which currently faces a punitive 27.5% US tariff. The confluence of the tariff pause expiration and the new food tariff threat creates an urgent environment for transatlantic trade discussions.