President Donald Trump has responded favorably to a request for a delay on a proposed 50% tariff on imports from the European Union, which he previously intended to implement by June 1.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump revealed that he had a conversation with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, who asked for an extension on the tariff increase originally scheduled for June 1.
“I agreed to the extension — July 9, 2025 — It was my privilege to do so,” Trump stated. “The Commission President said that talks will begin rapidly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
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In a separate statement on social media platform X, Von der Leyen noted that she had a “good call” with Trump and expressed Europe’s readiness to “advance talks swiftly and decisively.”
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Last Friday, Trump issued a warning about the impending 50% tariff on imports from the European Union amid ongoing negotiations regarding trade.
“The EU’s stringent trade barriers, VAT taxes, excessive corporate penalties, non-monetary trade barriers, monetary manipulation, and unjust lawsuits against American companies have resulted in a staggering trade deficit of over $250 billion annually, which is completely unacceptable,” Trump remarked. “…Thus, I am advocating for a straightforward 50% tariff on the European Union, effective June 1, 2025.”
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This tariff proposal emerged following a meeting where U.S. Vice President JD Vance conferred with Von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on May 18.
Earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent commented that Trump appears to be attempting to “light a fire” under the European Union.
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“I hope this will indeed motivate the EU, as they are grappling with a collective action problem,” Bessent remarked on “America’s Newsroom”. “There are 27 countries involved, but they are represented by one organization in Brussels. Some feedback suggests that the individual countries are unclear about what the EU negotiates on their behalf.”
