Trump Delays EU Tariffs Until July 9 After "Very Nice" Call With Von Der Leyen

Former President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he has agreed to delay a planned 50% tariff on European Union imports until July 9, following a phone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The move marks yet another instance of Trump walking back aggressive tariff threats after rattling global markets.

Speaking to reporters at Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey, Trump described the call as productive.
“[Von der Leyen] said she wants to get down to serious negotiation,” he said. “July 9 would be the day — that was the date she requested. Could we move it from June 1 to July 9? I agreed to do that.”

He added, “She said we will rapidly get together and see if we can work something out.”

Trump’s latest stance comes in stark contrast to remarks he made just two days earlier, when he declared he was “not looking for a deal” and reaffirmed the 50% tariff would take effect June 1. That hike would have followed a 20% tariff imposed in April, which was also delayed — part of a pattern of postponed trade measures during his administration.

Shortly after his airport comments, Trump posted on Truth Social that trade talks with the EU “will begin rapidly.”

Von der Leyen also weighed in on social media, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Good call with Donald 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.”

The delay had an immediate impact on global markets. Asian stocks posted modest gains on Monday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising 0.8% and South Korea’s KOSPI up 0.9%. China’s Shanghai Composite inched up 0.3%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index slipped 0.3%.

Trump has long taken issue with what he calls “non-monetary trade barriers” and has repeatedly criticized countries and trade blocs that run trade surpluses with the United States. In 2024, the U.S. reported a $236 billion trade deficit with the EU, according to the Commerce Department.

Also on Sunday, Trump commented on remarks by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who recently said it wasn’t necessary to bring textile manufacturing back to the U.S.

“I tend to agree,” Trump said. “We’re not looking to make sneakers and T-shirts … we want to make military equipment. We want to make big things. We want to do the ‘AI thing’ with the computers.”