Trump delaying 50% tariff on European Union
Trump agrees to delay tariffs on EU until July 9
President Donald Trump has announced a delay on proposed tariffs on the European Union until July 9, 2025. This decision followed a request from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Speaking to reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, President Trump says that he had agreed to the extension as a privilege and noted that rapid trade talks would commence.
President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on European Union nations were delayed Sunday, after the president said he had a call with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.
Trump’s European Union tariffs delayed
Timeline:
The 50% tariff on EU goose would have kicked in starting June 1, but Trump said his agreement to an extension sets the new date at July 9, 2025.
By the numbers:
If implemented, a 50% tariff would be higher than the 30% tariff on China, which was recently cut this month so Washington and Beijing could hold negotiations.
What they're saying:
Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday evening, saying it was his "privilege" to have agreed to an extension, and said that von der Leyen said their talks will begin rapidly.
US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists before boarding Air Force One from Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, New Jersey, May 25, 2025, after spending the weekend in New Jersey. (Photo by Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
Von der Leyen posted earlier on X that she had a "good call" with Trump.
"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," her post read.
The backstory:
Last week, Trump said on social media that trade talks with the European Union nations were "going nowhere" and called for a 50% tariff to go into effect June 1.
He said the 27-member bloc had been "very difficult to deal with."
READ MORE: Trump calls for 50% tariff on EU imports starting June 1
The EU has proposed mutually cutting tariffs to zero even as the president has publicly insisted on preserving a baseline 10% tax on most imports.
Dig deeper:
The core of Trump’s argument against the EU is that America runs a "totally unacceptable" trade deficit with the 27 member states. Countries run trade deficits when they import more goods than they export.
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What tariffs are in place right now?
Big picture view:
The following is a general overview of Trump’s tariffs currently in place, at the time of publication:
- 30% tariffs on China for a 90-day period, down from 145%
- As high as 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada
- Universal baseline tariff of 10% on most countries, while Trump is working trade deals with various countries in coming weeks
- Trump has also placed various import taxes on autos, steel and aluminum and plans to do so on pharmaceutical drugs, among other products
Meanwhile:
Trump is working to assure skeptical Americans that foreign producers, retailers or automakers will absorb the additional expenses that come from tariffs.
A slew of companies including toy manufacturer Mattel, toolmaker Stanley Black & Decker and consumer products giant Procter & Gamble have also already announced higher prices or plans to raise prices.
Why you should care:
Economic analyses are deeply skeptical of claims that tariffs won’t impact American consumer prices, and have warned that the tariffs would worsen inflation.
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The Source: Information in this article was taken from social media posts made May 25, 2025, by President Donald Trump on Truth Social and Ursula von der Leyen, and from remarks made the same day by Trump to reporters and reported by The Associated Press. Background information was taken from previous FOX Television Station reporting. This story was reported from Detroit.