President Donald Trump has delayed his proposed 50% tariffs on European Union imports until July 9 following a weekend call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, saying she requested more time for “serious negotiation.”
“I agreed to move it to July 9th. That was the date she requested. She said we will rapidly get together and see if we can work something out,” Trump told reporters.
Good call with @POTUS.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 25, 2025
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.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the move, calling the Trump–von der Leyen exchange a “good” one and reiterating his belief that tariffs are “not the right way” to resolve trade imbalances. Speaking in Vietnam, Macron said he hoped the U.S. and EU could “return to the lowest possible tariffs.”
An EU spokesperson said the call had given “new impetus” to negotiations between Washington and the 27-nation bloc.