WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has agreed to delay a proposed 50% tariff on European Union imports until July 9, following a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who requested additional time to finalize a trade agreement.
Trump announced the decision Sunday on his Truth Social platform, writing, “I received a call today from Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, requesting an extension on the June 1st deadline on the 50% Tariff with respect to Trade and the European Union. I agreed to the extension — July 9, 2025 — It was my privilege to do so.”
The move came shortly after von der Leyen described their conversation as a “good call,” emphasizing the urgency of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement. “The EU and US share the world’s most consequential and close trade relationship,” she said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively.”
The extension offers a temporary reprieve in what has been a tense standoff over trade terms. Trump had previously imposed 20% tariffs on EU imports under his broader “reciprocal tariffs” initiative, later reducing the rate to 10% for a 90-day period. But just last week, he signaled plans to implement a flat 50% tariff starting June 1, citing stalled negotiations.
“Our discussions with them are going nowhere!” Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social. At a White House event, he reinforced his stance, saying, “I just said, it’s time that we play the game the way I know how to play the game,” indicating no immediate intention to strike a pre-deadline deal.
The new July 9 deadline now sets the stage for another round of high-stakes negotiations between the U.S. and the 27-nation European bloc, which together account for one of the world’s most significant economic partnerships.
