President Trump Postpones 50% EU Tariffs, Extends Trade Negotiations Through July 9
U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to delay the planned imposition of 50 percent tariffs on European Union imports and to prolong ongoing trade negotiations until July 9. This decision followed a constructive phone call on Sunday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Financial Times.
According to “Financial Times,” Trump described the conversation as “very pleasant,” noting that von der Leyen expressed a strong desire to move towards serious negotiations.
“She expressed a clear intention to engage in serious negotiations. We had a very cordial exchange,” Trump told the press. He added, “She said we will meet soon to explore possible solutions.”
Shortly after, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, calling it “my privilege to extend the negotiation deadline.”
Von der Leyen, meanwhile, also posted: “Europe stands ready to advance negotiations quickly and decisively. To reach a fair and balanced agreement, we require time until July 9.”
Her office confirmed that she initiated the contact, signaling a possible shift towards compromise from the European Commission.
This phone call marks the first publicly confirmed direct talks between the two leaders about tariffs since Trump’s inauguration. It came two days after Trump announced his intention to impose steep 50% tariffs on EU imports starting June 1, a move he justified by citing unsatisfactory progress in trade talks with Brussels.
Previously, Trump had suspended a planned 20% tariff, originally scheduled for April, to allow a 90-day negotiation period, set to conclude on July 9.
On Friday, Maroš Šefčovič, the EU’s chief trade negotiator, called for “mutual respect rather than threats,” assuring that Brussels will firmly defend European interests amid the recent escalation.
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