President Donald Trump has pressed pause on his plan to impose 50% tariffs on European Union imports, extending the deadline from June 1 to July 9 following a diplomatic intervention by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The temporary reprieve came after what Trump called a “very nice call” with von der Leyen, who persuaded him to allow more time for substantive negotiations.
The delay has been met with optimism across European capitals, with Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris emphasizing that there is “no time to waste” to find a mutually beneficial agreement. “These contacts at the highest political level present the opportunity for negotiations to move forward. This is our priority. We want to see meaningful and substantive talks,” Harris stated, reflecting the general sentiment among EU officials.
Despite the breathing room, significant challenges remain. Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars are still in effect, prompting EU Trade Commissioner Šefčovič to hold a video conference with chief executives from Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, and Stellantis to reassure them. The EU has suspended its retaliatory tariffs on $22.5 billion of US goods but warns these will automatically activate on July 14 without a deal, while also consulting on a further round of measures targeting $101 billion of US products.