Lutnick: Trump wants 'good enough' EU trade offer — but what that means is unclear
Lutnick's comments suggest that Trump is open to a deal with the EU, but reiterated that the president still believes there's roughly a 50-50 chance that one can ultimately be reached.
"The question is, do they offer President Trump a good enough deal that is worth it for him to step off of the 30% tariffs that he set," Lutnick said on Fox News.
The commerce secretary's comments still raise questions about what a "good enough" deal with the United States' largest trading partner would look like at a pivotal time for trade negotiations.
Trump is set to hold trade talks with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, days before the Aug. 1 deadline for Trump's tariffs to take effect.
Ahead of the pivotal trade deadline, Trump on Friday said that "we have a 50-50 chance, maybe less than that, but a 50-50 chance of making a deal with the EU."
He said that sticking points remained "with maybe 20 different things," raising questions about whether the two leaders could move closer to a framework for a deal on Sunday.
As Trump has threatened to impose 30% tariffs on the EU, the bloc has weighed countermeasures, such as using its "Anti-Coercion Instrument," a move that has been seen as the trading bloc's "trade bazooka."
Such a move could hinder U.S. vendors' participation in the EU market.
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