Trump delays EU tariffs until July 9 following call with von der Leyen

US President Donald Trump announced on May 25 that he has agreed to postpone a planned 50 per cent tariff on European Union imports until July 9, following a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Speaking to reporters at Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey, Trump said von der Leyen had requested more time for negotiations, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

“She said she wants to get down to serious negotiation,” he stated. “July 9 would be the day, that was the date she requested. Could we move it from June 1 to July 9? I agreed to do that.”

Trump added that von der Leyen expressed a willingness to engage quickly: “She said we will rapidly get together and see if we can work something out.”

The announcement came just two days after Trump declared he was “not looking for a deal” with the EU and reaffirmed that the 50 per cent tariff would take effect on June 1. That tariff followed an earlier 20 per cent reciprocal levy introduced in April, which was also delayed.

Minutes after his remarks to the press, Trump reiterated on his Truth Social platform that “talks will begin rapidly.”

Earlier that day, von der Leyen confirmed the call via a post on X, describing it as “good” and expressing optimism about reaching a deal. 

“The EU and US share the world’s most consequential and close trade relationship,” she wrote. “Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively. To reach a good deal, we would need the time until July 9.”

Trump has long criticised what he refers to as “non-monetary trade barriers” and has targeted countries or blocs with significant trade surpluses with the US. According to the US Commerce Department, the trade deficit with the EU totaled $236 billion last year.

By Sabina Mammadli