Dutch minister warns EU-U.S. trade deal must hold as Trump tariff deadline looms

European Union member states and the European Parliament are set to resume negotiations with the United States on Tuesday over a long-delayed trade agreement, as officials warn that time is running out and political trust remains fragile.

Dutch trade minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma said Monday in Brussels that the agreement, reached in principle last summer by the European Commission with U.S. negotiators, is essential for the Netherlands but still requires final approval from both the European Parliament and EU member states.

The urgency is heightened by U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that he could impose additional import tariffs on automobiles if the deal is not finalized before July 4.

“No one in the Netherlands wants tariffs and trade barriers. And certainly not our companies,” Sjoerdsma said. “Companies have an even greater dislike of uncertainty,” he said. “That makes doing business in the United States very difficult, and that makes their business model very difficult. That means that on our side, sticking to the deal is really crucial.”

Within the European Parliament, lawmakers are pushing to add a clause that would automatically terminate the agreement if the United States introduces new tariffs, reflecting deep skepticism toward Trump’s trade policy.

“The core is that trust must be mutual,” Sjoerdsma said. “A deal is a deal, and that means that the European Union must stick to its side of the deal. Conversely, we may expect the same from our American friends and that they do the same and do not introduce new measures.”

The European Commission has taken a similar position. A spokesperson said Monday that it remains confident the member states and the European Parliament will reach a compromise by Tuesday evening.