Sources: 'US counterproposal on tariffs reached the EU'. White House, increase on 9 July could be postponed

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, according to sources close to the file, informed European leaders that she had received the US counterproposal in the tariffs negotiations. Washington's offer, it is further learned, consists of a few pages of text and would outline 'a provisional agreement' between the US and the EU.

The aim is to reach at least an agreement in principle, on which to work with a view to arriving at a balanced system that includes 'compensation' for any 'asymmetrical' American tariffs. The subject of tariffs is not, officially, on the agenda of the ongoing European Council in Brussels, but it is certainly being addressed.

"The 9 July deadline for trade agreements is not meant to be decisive". This was said by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt at a press conference. The deadline, in short, would not be crucial to the administration's strategy and "perhaps can be extended, but that is a decision for the president," Leavitt said.

Other administration officials have signalled a similar prospect, which would give diplomacy a better chance of avoiding new escalations of trade conflicts. Among them Stephen Miran, head of the White House economic council: he, in turn, told the US media in the last few hours that partners engaged in sincere negotiations could obtain postponements to allow time for constructive negotiations that would otherwise risk being derailed.

Much ambiguity actually remains behind the US positions. Leavitt, in addition to saying that Trump always has the final say, added that the President could also simply decide on his own initiative on a level of import tariffs beneficial to the US and American workers and then communicate this to foreign capitals that have not yet come to terms at the time of the deadline.