It wasn’t immediately clear if the EU would be able to secure tariff reductions for particular industries, such as automotive or steel, a key demand from member states including Germany. The EU currently faces 25% tariffs in the automotive sector and 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum.

The U.S. and the European Union have not yet struck a trade deal with just days to go before Trump's tariff reprieve is set to end.

In a marked departure from earlier negotiation-based trade strategies, US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he has signed formal letters addressed to 12 countries, informing them of the tariff rates their exports will soon face.