France calls to push back deadline for EU‑US trade deal
French Finance Minister Eric Lombard (Photo: Getty Images)
French Finance Minister Eric Lombard has called for the continuation of trade negotiations between the EU and the US, Reuters reports.
The French minister stated that the July 9 deadline set by US President Donald Trump should be postponed to achieve a more favorable trade deal.
Lombard noted in an interview with the newspaper La Tribune Dimanche that he considers reaching an agreement with the Americans possible.
“Regarding the deadline, my wish is for another postponement. I would rather have a good deal than a bad deal on July 9,” Lombard said.
EU-US trade negotiations
In April 2025, Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on nearly all US trade partners but suspended the decision for 90 days to negotiate individual trade deals with countries.
The EU faces the threat of a 50% tariff on almost all its exports to the US if an agreement is not reached by July 9.
The American leader previously warned that failure to reach a deal could lead to increased US tariffs on a variety of goods, from cars to pharmaceuticals.
Following the EU summit on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that his country wants a swift and pragmatic trade agreement with the US but will not accept unbalanced terms.
At the same time, the White House announced that it will soon begin sending letters to the country’s trade partners, specifying who will need to pay what under the new tariffs.
