European Union Commissioner Michael McGrath has warned that a deal on EU-US tariffs remains uncertain as high-stakes negotiations continue, ahead of a meeting between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump on Sunday evening.
Speaking to Ireland’s RTÉ This Week programme, McGrath described the talks as a “live negotiation” and emphasised that while progress has been made, an agreement is not guaranteed. “We are hoping for a conclusion and a good outcome, but we also have to be prepared — other outcomes are possible,” he said.
McGrath’s remarks come amid reports that a potential 15% tariff agreement could be on the table, though he declined to confirm specific figures. “I can’t get into numbers at this time,” he said, adding that any agreement would need to be viewed in the context of rapidly shifting global economic conditions. “The world has changed, and the terms we had six months ago are no longer available.”
The commissioner suggested that while the talks may produce a political declaration, even that is not assured. “What we will see today is hopefully a political statement, a political declaration, although that is not certain,” McGrath noted.
With just days to go before the August 1 deadline to finalise a tariff arrangement, EU officials are working under intense pressure. McGrath acknowledged that negotiations are often narrowed down to “a select amount of items” in their final phase.
A major focus for the EU is providing clarity and certainty to sectors such as pharmaceuticals, which have been heavily affected by ongoing trade uncertainty and shifting tariff structures. “The objective is to bring clarity and certainty to businesses,” McGrath said, “but it remains to be seen whether that can be achieved today.”
When asked whether a 15% tariff rate would represent a poor outcome for the EU, McGrath refrained from giving a definitive answer. “I don’t think we should reach any conclusion yet,” he said.
He also addressed the question of whether any deal agreed at the EU level would be accepted by all member states. “That will ultimately be up to the member states themselves,” he noted.
As the EU and US seek to navigate complex economic and political pressures, McGrath reiterated that the landscape has fundamentally shifted, saying negotiators must now “try to find the best deal for the European Union” in a world that looks very different from even six months ago.
