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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was delaying imposing planned 50 percent tariffs on trade with the European Union from June 1 to July 9 following a request from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Newsweek contacted the European Commission for comment on Monday via online inquiry form outside regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has introduced a series of biting tariffs targeting most of America's trade partners, though many of the tariffs have since been rolled back.
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Trump argued that the move was needed to boost government revenue and restore America's manufacturing industry, while critics said it would boost inflation and cut economic growth.
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What To Know
In a post on his Truth Social website on Saturday, Trump said it was his "privilege" to delay plans for a 50 percent tariff on trade with the EU from June 1 to July 9. He said it had been requested by von der Leyen, who heads the bloc's executive arm, in a phone conversation earlier in the day.
Earlier on Saturday, von der Leyen said she'd had a "good call" with Trump and would need until July 9 "to reach a good deal," in a post on her X account.
On May 23, Trump announced that he would be "recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025" as "our discussions with them are going nowhere!"
Trump has imposed a 20 percent tariff on trade with the EU as part of what he called his "liberation day" tariffs, announced on April 2, which also saw a 25 percent levy imposed on South Korea and an additional 34 percent on China.
However, after a negative market reaction, Trump announced that all except the China tariffs would be suspended for 90 days to allow time for talks and replaced with a flat 10 tariff rate. A separate 25 percent tariff on automobile imports remained in place.
At the end of April, a report from Oxford Economics forecast that U.S. industrial output would shrink by 0.8 percent between 2025 and 2026 as a direct result of the tariffs.
In a series of tit-for-tat moves, the U.S. and China imposed tariffs of 145 percent and 125 percent, respectively on each other's goods, before both sides agreed to bring their rates down by 115 percent following talks in Switzerland this month.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, on Truth Social: "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 Commission President said that talks will begin rapidly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on X: "Good call with @POTUS. The EU and US share the world's most consequential and close trade relationship.
"Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively. To reach a good deal, we would need the time until July 9."
Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of self-styled "pro-democracy" media outlet Medias Touch, on X: "Trump reduced the tariffs on China in exchange for nothing. He paused the tariffs on Canada & Mexico in exchange for nothing.
"He postponed tariffs on EU in exchange for nothing. He threatened Russia with sanctions if they didn't sign ceasefire & did nothing. Art of the Deal."
Indian columnist and YouTuber S.L. Kanthan, on X: "The European Union is America's largest trade partner. Trump's 50% tariff is a bluff.
"He will get some concessions from the EU and call it the greatest deal to please his MAGA base."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether the U.S. and EU will agree to a new trade deal to avoid the new tariffs before July 9, and if not, whether Trump's threatened 50 percent tariffs will go into effect or be delayed again.
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