President Donald Trump said he has agreed to postpone the imposition of 50% tariffs on European Union imports until July 9, the latest in a series of announcements of imminent tariffs that have rattled markets and then subsequently backed down.
Trump explained that he had a “very nice” call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which led to the postponement.
“She said she wants to engage in serious negotiations,” Trump told reporters at Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey. “July 9th is the date, and that was the date she asked for. She asked if we could move it from June 1st to July 9th, and I agreed.”
Trump noted that von der Leyen said, “We’ll meet quickly and see if we can make a deal.”
Trump had stated last Friday that he was “not looking for a deal” with the European Union, and that the tariffs were set at 50 percent, which were supposed to take effect on June 1. This move followed his imposition of a 20 percent reciprocal tariff in April, which, like other similar tariffs, was also postponed.
Minutes after speaking to reporters, Trump wrote on Truth Social that “talks will start quickly.”
Earlier that day, von der Leyen wrote on X that the call with Trump was “good.”
She added in her post: “The EU and the US share the most important and closest trading relationship in the world. Europe is ready to move forward with negotiations quickly and decisively. To reach a good deal, we need time until July 9.”
