Trump Delays EU Tariff Deadline After Threatening 50% Import Tax

President Donald Trump has agreed to delay the implementation of a proposed 50% tariff on European Union imports, pushing the deadline from June 1 to July 9, 2025, in response to a direct request from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The announcement, made via Trump’s Truth Social account on Sunday, follows growing tensions between Washington and Brussels over trade barriers and regulatory policies that the former president has long criticized as unfair to American businesses.

“I agreed to the extension on July 9, 2025, It was my privilege to do so,” Trump wrote. “The Commission President said that talks will begin rapidly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Speaking to reporters at Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey, Trump confirmed the call from von der Leyen and said the European leader had requested more time for formal negotiations.

“July 9th was the date she requested… And I agreed,” Trump said. “She said we’ll rapidly get together and see if we can work something out.”

Von der Leyen echoed the sentiment in a post on X (formerly Twitter), describing her call with Trump as “good” and affirming that Europe is ready to engage in swift and decisive negotiations.

Global Concern Over Tariff Plan

On Friday, Trump renewed his hardline stance on EU trade, threatening to impose a 50% tariff on all imports from the bloc starting June 1, citing what he described as “unfair and unjustified” practices.

“Their powerful trade barriers, VAT taxes, corporate penalties, monetary manipulations, and frivolous lawsuits against American companies have led to a trade deficit of more than $250 billion a year,” Trump said. “This is totally unacceptable… I’m recommending a straight 50% tariff on the European Union.”

The proposed tariff plan comes amid renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and the EU, and follows a May 18 meeting between U.S. Vice President JD Vance, von der Leyen, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the proposed tariffs earlier this week, framing them as a strategic move to force action from the EU.

“I would hope this lights a fire under the EU,” Bessent told Fox News. “It’s 27 countries, but they’re being represented by one group in Brussels—and some of those countries don’t even know what’s being negotiated on their behalf.”

The tariff threat has raised concerns among economists and business leaders about the potential for retaliatory trade measures and global market disruption, especially if negotiations fail before the new July deadline.

As both sides prepare to enter formal talks, the coming weeks will determine whether the world’s two largest trading blocs can bridge their growing economic divide—or move closer to a trade war.