Trump Delays 50% EU Tariffs to July 9 After Call with European Commission President

Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the United States will delay the implementation of a threatened 50% tariff on European Union goods, moving the deadline from June 1 to July 9. The decision follows a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who requested more time for negotiations to resolve ongoing trade tensions between the two major economies.

The proposed tariffs, which Trump had threatened to impose last week, were set to affect a wide range of EU exports to the U.S., potentially impacting hundreds of billions of dollars in transatlantic trade. Trump had previously expressed frustration with the EU, stating on social media that the bloc had been "very difficult to deal with" and that trade talks were "going nowhere".

Speaking to reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, before returning to Washington, Trump explained, "I received a call from Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, requesting an extension on the June 1st deadline regarding the 50% tariff. She said she wants to get down to serious negotiations and asked for more time. July 9 was the date she proposed, and I agreed to shift it from June 1 to July 9".

Von der Leyen confirmed the conversation in a post on X (formerly Twitter), describing the call as "good" and emphasizing the importance of the EU-U.S. trade relationship. "Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively," she wrote, adding that the additional time is needed "to reach a good deal".

The delay has been interpreted as a gesture of goodwill and has temporarily eased fears of an imminent escalation in the transatlantic trade dispute. U.S. stock market futures responded positively to the news, reflecting investor optimism that the two sides might reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

The European Union is the United States' largest trading partner, accounting for a significant share of U.S. exports and imports. The threatened 50% tariffs could have affected approximately $606 billion worth of EU goods exported to the United States in 2024.

Negotiations between the U.S. and EU are expected to begin rapidly, with both sides expressing a desire to find common ground before the new July 9 deadline. The outcome of these talks will be closely watched by global markets and industries on both sides of the Atlantic.

Key Points:

• Trump delays 50% tariffs on EU goods from June 1 to July 9 after a call with von der Leyen.
• The move is intended to allow more time for negotiations and avert an immediate trade conflict.
• Both leaders emphasized the importance of the U.S.-EU economic relationship and a willingness to engage in swift talks.
• Markets responded positively to the news, signaling hope for a deal before the new deadline.

The coming weeks will be critical as negotiators work to resolve differences and avoid a major escalation in the U.S.-EU trade dispute.