Trump delays 50% EU tariff until 9 July

US President Trump stated on Sunday that he would postpone the implementation of a 50 per cent tariff on all imports from the European Union until 9 July, in order to allow more time for trade negotiations.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had spoken with Commission president Ursula regarding his recent threat to introduce the tariffs on 1 June if a trade agreement could not be reached within the following week.

Ursula von der Leyen wrote on social media she had a "good call" with Donald Trump and indicated she appealed for more time for negotiations. Trump spent Friday vowing to hit the European Union with the tariffs from 1 June – but von der Leyen said on Sunday that an extra five weeks are needed to hammer out an agreement.

"Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively," von der Leyen wrote. "To reach a good deal, we would need the time until July 9."

The EU executive is in charge of the bloc's commercial policy, and it leads negotiations with the US on tariffs against EU countries.

The 9 July date cited by von der Leyen is when Trump's 90-day pause on a different set of tariffs he'd threatened back in April is due to expire.

The EU has been negotiating a possible trade deal with the US administration to avoid Trump's threatened tariffs. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic was already in touch with the US administration on Friday.

Trump, however, said later on Firday that there will be no more negotiations and told reporters that, "I'm not looking for a deal."

The Commission has threatened to hit the US back with tariffs of its own, including a list of €116 billion worth of American exports viewed as possible targets, including cars and aircraft.

EU exporters to the US currently face a 25% tariff on cars, steel and aluminium, as well as a 10% blanket levy. Trump's so-called “reciprocal tariffs” – which were suspended until July – could potentially add another 10% import tax on EU products.