“My Privilege To Do So”: Trump’s 8-Day Tariff Breather To EU

US President Donald Trump on Sunday backed off his risk to impose 50 per cent tariffs on items from the European Union, as he agreed to increase his deadline for commerce talks till July 9, after a “very good name” with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. On Friday, Trump threatened to accentuate his commerce struggle and invoke the steep tariffs on the EU as quickly as June 1, saying talks with the bloc over his earlier levies had been “going nowhere.” The risk roiled international markets. 

The American President relented after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen advised him throughout a telephone name that the EU wanted extra time to return to an settlement and requested him to delay the tariffs till July, the deadline he had initially set when he introduced new tariffs in April.

“I obtained a name as we speak 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. I agreed to the extension — July 9, 2025 — It was my privilege to take action. The Commission President mentioned that talks will start quickly. Thank you on your consideration to this matter,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The EU chief had earlier mentioned on X that she held a “good name” with Trump, however that “to achieve an excellent deal, we would want the time till July 9.”

“Europe is able to advance talks swiftly and decisively,” mentioned the president of the European Commission, which conducts commerce coverage for the 27-nation bloc.

Trump’s Threat

In early April, Trump had set a 90-day window for commerce talks for the EU and the US, which was to finish on July 9 as Brussels and Washington negotiated in a bid to avert an all-out transatlantic commerce struggle.

But Trump’s risk on Friday dramatically raised the stakes, after he mentioned he was “not in search of a deal” with the EU, repeating his oft-stated view that the bloc was created to “take benefit” of the United States.

Trump has hit the bloc with three units of tariffs: 25 per cent on metal and aluminium and on vehicles, adopted by a 20 per cent “reciprocal” levy on all imports — which has been suspended pending talks, although a baseline 10 per cent stays in power.

EU’s Plan

The EU’s commerce chief, Maros Sefcovic, who held talks along with his US counterparts on Friday, responded to Trump’s newest outburst by saying the bloc was “dedicated to securing a deal” however that commerce ties needs to be primarily based on “mutual respect, not threats”.

Brussels has introduced plans to hit US items price practically 100 billion euros ($113 billion) with tariffs if negotiations fail to supply a deal. The US commerce deficit in items with the European Union was $236 billion in 2024. But when taking account of providers, the place American companies are dominant, the European Commission calculates that the US commerce deficit stood at 50 billion euros ($57 billion).

‘Serious Negotiations’

Meanwhile, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil individually on Sunday known as for “severe negotiations” with Washington, saying he had spoken along with his US counterpart Scott Bessent in regards to the matter.

“We do not want any additional provocations, however severe negotiations,” Klingbeil, who can also be Germany’s vice chancellor, advised Bild newspaper.

“The US tariffs endanger the US economic system simply as a lot because the German and European economic system,” Klingbeil warned.