Trump Says He’ll Delay 50% Tariffs on Europe – For Now
Charlie Kirk Staff
05/26/2025

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he is delaying a planned tariff hike on European Union imports following a call with the bloc’s leader, who reportedly requested more time to negotiate what Trump called a “good deal.”
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump announced that the proposed tariff hike on EU imports—from 10% to 50%, floated just days earlier—will be postponed from June 1 to July 9. He said the decision came after a phone call from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who requested more time to negotiate.
“I received a call today from Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, requesting an extension on the June 1st deadline on the 50% Tariff with respect to Trade and the European Union,” Trump said. “I agreed to the extension — July 9, 2025 — It was my privilege to do so. The Commission President said that talks will begin rapidly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Von der Leyen said she had a “good call” with Trump in a post on X.
“The EU and US share the world’s most consequential and close trade relationship,” von der Leyen said. “Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively. To reach a good deal, we would need the time until July 9.”
Just ahead of Memorial Day weekend, President Trump announced plans to slap a 50% tariff on European Union goods—effectively cutting short the previously declared 90-day pause on his “Liberation Day” tariffs for the bloc by more than a month, the Daily Wire noted.
“The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with,” Trump said at the time. “Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the U.S. of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable. Our discussions with them are going nowhere!”
“Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025,” he added. “There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States.”