*

Lutnick says he is confident US will secure trade deal

with EU

*

Elevated inflation, strong data cloud Fed rate cut

expectations,

ANZ says

*

China's imports of gold, platinum fall in June from prior

month

(Updates for EMEA morning session)

By Anmol Choubey

July 21 (Reuters) - Gold prices firmed on Monday,

bolstered by a weaker U.S. dollar, while investors sought

clarity on trade developments ahead of an August 1 U.S. tariff

deadline.

Spot gold was up 0.5% at $3,365.49 per ounce by 0751

GMT. U.S. gold futures rose 0.5% to $3,373.20.

"The modest support...comes from a weaker U.S. dollar. With

the tariff August 1 deadline coming closer, the market focus

will be if trade deals are announced, or tariffs are

implemented," said UBS commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

The dollar eased 0.2% against a basket of other major

currencies, making gold less expensive for their holders

.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Sunday he was

confident the United States can secure a trade deal with the

European Union, but August 1 is a hard deadline for tariffs to

kick in.

Gold, often considered a safe-haven asset during economic

uncertainty, tends to do well in a low interest rate

environment.

The U.S. Federal Reserve's next policy meeting is scheduled

for July 29-30, following its decision to hold rates steady last

month.

"Elevated inflation expectations and strong economic data

are weighing on expectations around the number of Fed rate cuts

this year. Despite this, the buy-on-dip strategy remains in

place, protecting downside risks for gold prices," ANZ analysts

said in a note.

Last week, Fed Governor Christopher Waller said he still

believes that the U.S. central bank should cut rates next week.

Data showed that top consumer China's imports of gold fell

for a second successive month in June. China's imports of

platinum in June fell 6.1% from the prior month.

Spot silver gained 0.6% to $38.39 per ounce, platinum

rose 1.8% to $1,447.30 and palladium was 1.5%

higher at $1,259.