In response to the Trump administration flip-flopping on their tariffs deadline, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:

“Donald Trump and his clown car Cabinet can’t get their story straight. Week after week, this administration has made it clear they have zero clue what they are doing. American consumers and businesses are already struggling under Trump’s unaffordable agenda, and they deserve better than a chaotic and reckless trade war that changes hour to hour based on Trump’s mood. ‘90 deals in 90 days’ has turned into just another broken promise to the American people.” 

Trump’s latest trade “deal” is nothing more than a preliminary framework that will tax US consumers more while European consumers pay less — just like Trump’s other so-called “deals”. 

BBC: “US consumers – loser … Ordinary Americans are already aggrieved at the increased cost of living and this deal could add to the burden by hiking prices on EU goods.” 

Politico: “EU admits it can’t guarantee $600B promise to Trump” 

“The European Union has admitted it doesn’t have the power to deliver on a promise to invest $600 billion in the United States economy, only hours after making the pledge at landmark trade talks in Scotland.

“That’s because the cash would come entirely from private sector investment over which Brussels has no authority, two EU officials said.” 

Justin Wolfers, University of Michigan: “American President raises taxes on Americans across a wide range of goods; European Union President announces tax cuts for Europeans across a narrow range of goods.” 

CNN: “President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the United States and the European Union reached a framework for a trade deal, ending a monthslong saga with America’s largest trading partner.”

Associated Press: “What Trump described as a ‘deal’ is actually less than that: It’s a ‘framework’ meant to set the stage for more substantive talks.”  

Bloomberg: “Trump’s Preliminary ‘Napkin’ Deals on Trade Face Scrutiny”

On Sunday, it was reported that Donald Trump plans to delay the deadline for tariffs on China for an additional 90 days.

South China Morning Post: “Beijing and Washington are expected to extend their tariff truce by another three months at trade talks in Stockholm beginning on Monday, according to sources close to the matter on both sides.”

Meanwhile, Howard Lutnick is doubling down on Donald Trump’s August 1st tariff deadline — just five days away.  

Howard Lutnick: “[S]o no extensions, no more grace periods. August 1st, the tariffs are set. They’ll go into place. Customs will start collecting the money, and off we go.”

The same flip-flop happened last week — Lutnick called Aug. 1 a “hard deadline” as Scott Bessent downplayed the August 1 tariffs deadline.

Joe Kernan: “But, Mr. Secretary, August 1st is a week from a week from Friday, I think, and I think that’s on everyone’s mind. Any progress that you can report on some of our big trading partners?” 

Scott Bessent: “Look, Joe, talks are moving along … And we are more concerned with high quality deals than getting these deals done by August 1st. … [W]e’re not going to rush for the sake of doing deals.”

Margaret Brennan: “August 1, is it a hard deadline with the E.U. or is that going to slide?”

Howard Lutnick: “No, no. That’s a hard deadline. So, on August 1, the new tariff rates will come in.”

Donald Trump: “As per letters sent to various countries yesterday, in addition to letters that will be sent today, tomorrow, and for the next short period of time, TARIFFS WILL START BEING PAID ON AUGUST 1, 2025. There has been no change to this date, and there will be no change. In other words, all money will be due and payable starting AUGUST 1, 2025 – No extensions will be granted.”

PROMISES MADE, PROMISES BROKEN: The Trump administration failed — massively — on its promise of 90 deals in 90 days.

Reporter: “August 1st you’ve said is the deadline. What incentives do countries have to negotiate? It seems that deadline keeps moving.”

Donald Trump: “No, it’s always been August 1st. … I didn’t make a change.”

Garrett Haake, NBC News: “President Trump just denied changing the date for tariff deadline to August 1, saying in cabinet meeting that was always the date. 

“Here’s the EO he signed yesterday moving the deadline from July 9 to August 1.”

Politico: “For all his optimistic talk on trade, Trump has made little tangible progress since this spring’s tariff spree, so far only securing frameworks of agreements with the U.K. and China and leaving American businesses grappling with continued economic uncertainty.”

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