EU races to strike trade deal with Washington as Macron slams tariff 'blackmail'

European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic arrives for a meeting of EU trade ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, 15 May 2025. © Omar Havana / AP

With the 9 July deadline fast approaching, the European Union is racing to secure a trade agreement with Washington in a bid to avert steep tariffs on its exports. In an effort to advance the negotiations, EU Trade Chief Maroš Šefčovič has travelled to Washington for final talks with President Donald Trump’s administration before the deadline expires.

But as Šefčovič prepares for the uphill task of securing a deal with President Donald Trump’s administration, tensions are already flaring on the European side – and none more so than from French President Emmanuel Macron, who has sharply criticised aggressive tariff policies as “blackmail.”