Trump, the president of the United States, has delayed a 50 % tax on all Union imports until July. Trump cited anger over stalled improvement in business negotiations with the 27-nation alliance as the initial date for the measure’s entry into effect.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed it was a “privilege” to give the improvement in response to a telephone contact with German Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over the weekend. In an X post, Von der Leyen wrote that” Europe is ready to expand talks quickly and decisively.”” To achieve a good deal, we would need the period until July 9,” she wrote.
The risk of increased tariffs has sparked a stir under the EU, with talks now set to concentrate solely on pressing issues to quicken the transition, according to Bloomberg. Priority discussions in semiconductors, cars, medicine, and aluminum may be led by Maro efovi, the Western Commissioner for Trade.
Since Trump suspended his 20 % “reciprocal” price on the EU and those that target other countries with which the US has a trade deficit, Washington and Brussels have been negotiating a business deal. The EU lifted its 25 % punitive tariffs the following morning that targeted US goods worth €21 billion.
Before announcing his plans for the 50 % price, Trump claimed on May 23 that the EU “has been extremely difficult to deal with” and that “discussions with them are going nowhere”. US diplomats are reportedly pursuing coercive price reductions for goods imported from the United States.
According to solutions, the EU and the US would like to reach a mutually advantageous agreement, but it’s unclear whether Trump and Trump have the same objectives. They have also been putting a strain on their American peers by saying that reaching a deal should be a shared focus because the two economies are so deeply intertwined.
How long has the US-EU business conflict lasted?
Trump has been threatening to impose levies on the EU since his second term as president, criticizing its car, oil, and gas industry deficit, but the conflict finally broke out in March of this year.
- On March 12, 2025, the US began imposing increased tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, both of which were set at 25 %. The EU threatened US countermeasures that targeted beer and other agricultural and industrial products the same day.
- In a statement made via social media on March 13, 2025, the US president threatened 200 % tariffs on EU beer.
- The EU lowered its beer tariffs on March 20, 2025, and delayed the people until mid-April.
- March 27, 2025: The US imposed a 25 % tariff on global car imports, a move that disproportionately affected Germany, the largest automotive exporter in the world.
- President Trump made extensive “reciprocal tariffs” on April 2, 2025, which included a 20 % tax on all exports from the EU.
- April 9, 2025: The EU set up 25 % retaliatory tariffs that would affect US items worth$ 21 billion, and they were scheduled to go into effect on April 15. Trump made the announcement that the mutual tariffs would be suspended for 90 days, briefly lowering the 20 % tariff on EU exports to 10 %.
- April 10, 2025: The EU has 90 days to work out a business deal during the wait.
- May 8, 2025: The EU makes a list of US products fair €95 billion that could be subject to tariffs if negotiations fail, including cars, aircraft, electric products, alcohol, fish, and chemicals.
- Midway through May 2025, Washington and Brussels both give and accept each other’s industry proposals.
- Trump announces strategies to impose a 50 % tax on all EU exports starting on June 23.
- Trump extends the time the 50 % price will go into effect to July 9 on May 25, 2025.
Trump has stated that he will reinstate mutual tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals while the ongoing negotiations are ongoing, and has threatened to impose additional tariffs on industries like the film industry. Numerous EU member states have urged the Commission to fight if these were to be used.
The EU shared a industry proposal with Washington last week, suggesting the gradual elimination of tariffs on a number of agricultural and industrial goods, as well as common investment and procurement plans in areas like artificial intelligence, modern connectivity, and other important areas.
This quarter, the US has entered agreements with both the UK and China, which suggests that Trump is willing to compromise. But, according to Bloomberg, the EU has no desire to accept conditions that are comparable to those reached with other nations.
