With less than a week until the July 9 US reciprocal tariff deadline, major economies are drawing lines in the sand—juggling calls for a deal with back-up plans in case talks collapse.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU is “ready for a deal” with the United States but is also preparing retaliatory measures to defend European industries if negotiations fall short.
In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba highlighted that Japan is one of the largest investors and job creators in the United States, arguing that boosting investment, rather than imposing tariffs, is the key to addressing trade imbalances.
Meanwhile, talks between India and the United States have stalled over auto components, steel and farm goods, with India marking agriculture and dairy as “red-line” issues ahead of the reciprocal tariff talks.
A spokesperson from the commerce ministry of the Chinese mainland says both sides are stepping up efforts to implement outcomes of their economic and trade consultation mechanism, urging Washington to appreciate the “mutually beneficial” nature of bilateral ties.
All this unfolds as US President Donald Trump signals he may hike tariffs to 30–35 percent if no satisfactory deal is reached—raising the stakes for global supply chains and markets.
With the clock ticking, the coming days will reveal whether diplomacy can outweigh escalating tariff threats.
Reference(s):
Major economies vow defense interests as US tariff deadline nears
cgtn.com
