President Donald Trump stands at a crucial crossroads, with the deadline for his self-imposed tariff freeze looming. The trade-deal deadline is July 9. That last action has been deeply worrying many of our international partners — particularly the European Union, which is facing a proposed 50% tariffs on their goods. The White House has signaled that Trump will do so, and might even extend this pause indefinitely, if needed.
DOT Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reassuring reporters about the approaching deadline. She stated, “The July 9 trade-deal deadline is not critical,” suggesting that the administration remains open to negotiations. Trump prepares to push against the grain at NATO Summit 2025. This summit will take place in The Hague, Netherlands. A dinner event at Huis ten Bosch Palace on June 24, 2025, will precede the summit, allowing for preliminary discussions on trade and tariffs.
Leavitt went on to discuss the limits of the president’s authority under tariff law. She noted, “The president can simply provide these countries with a deal if they refuse to make us one by the deadline,” emphasizing that Trump retains the flexibility to adjust tariffs based on negotiations. Second, she said, this flexibility allows him to pick and choose reciprocal tariff rates. He is convinced these rates will do wonders for the United States and American workers.
With that July 9 deadline quickly approaching, it’s anyone’s guess where negotiations go from here. The White House deserves credit for demonstrating an openness to build dialogue with key international counterparts. This is most clear in the possibility of an extension of the tariff pause. This step would go a long way toward de-escalating tensions created by unilateral, protectionist trade action.