EU leaders prepare response to Trump’s 30% tariff threat as trade war fears grow

EU delays €21bn in retaliatory tariffs as leaders seek deal with US ahead of Trump’s August 1 trade deadline

Negotiations on tariffs were upended on Saturday when US president Donald Trump warned that if a deal is not struck by the August 1 deadline, the rate on goods coming from the EU would be 30%. Picture: Piroschka Van De Wouw/Pool/AP

European trade ministers will gather in Brussels on Monday to try to formulate a response to Donald Trump's imposition of a 30% tariff on the EU, which threatens to spark a trade war.

Negotiations on tariffs were upended on Saturday when US president Donald Trump warned that if a deal is not struck by the August 1 deadline, the rate on goods coming from the EU would be 30%.