WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has set a deadline for the European Union to agree on a trade agreement by July 4, saying that if the union fails to do so, tariffs will be sharply raised.
President Trump made this statement on Thursday, saying that should the EU fail to ratify the trade agreement on the day when America celebrates its 250th Independence Day, tariffs on products from Europe would be raised right away. This happened after representatives of the European Union could not reach an agreement regarding the trade deal.
Trump stated in his social media post that he had informed the President of the European Commission about his ultimatum. This decision may put a strain on US-EU trade relations because of the ongoing disagreements between the two parties.
Not long ago, Trump made a statement about raising tariffs on imported cars and trucks from Europe, increasing them to 25 percent.
Trump: Three US warships pass Strait of Hormuz despite Iranian attacks
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that three US Navy destroyers successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz despite attacks from Iranian forces, with no damage sustained to the American ships.
In a statement on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said that while the Iranian attack targeted the destroyers, the missiles and drones launched were intercepted and neutralized without harming the US vessels. He added that the American forces destroyed the small attacking Iranian boats, which sank in the water.
Trump described the Iranian drone strikes as ineffective, claiming they fell into the sea “like butterflies,” and criticized Iran’s leadership, calling them “madmen” who would use nuclear weapons if given the chance. He warned that Iran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
He also said that the US has delivered a “knockout” to Iran, and if diplomatic deals are not signed, even harsher measures could follow.
