New decision from Trump regarding customs duties on the EU!

US President Donald Trump announced that he has postponed the effective date of the 50 percent direct customs duty planned to be applied to the European Union (EU). It was reported that this decision, initially announced as June 1, 2025, has been moved to July 9, 2025, with the new date.

Trump made his official statement via the Truth Social platform. In his post, Trump mentioned a phone call he held with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stating that von der Leyen had requested additional time from him for the implementation of the tariffs. Noting that he took this request into consideration, Trump said the postponement decision was made accordingly.

Furthermore, Trump stated that during the conversation, von der Leyen gave promising messages that trade negotiations between the two sides would begin shortly, and thanked her for her sensitivity to the matter.

Von der Leyen also emphasized in a statement on her social media account that they had a productive meeting with Trump and shared her assessment that "The EU and the US share the world's most important and closest trade relationship."

ADDITIONAL TAX DECISION AND PRECEDING DEVELOPMENTS

In his statement on Truth Social on May 23, Trump argued that the desired progress had not been achieved in the ongoing trade negotiations with the European Union, stating, "Therefore, I am proposing a direct 50 percent tariff on the EU starting June 1. However, if the product is established or produced in the US, no customs duty will be applied."

Following these developments, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also made a statement regarding the process. Secretary Bessent had expressed that when Trump compared the proposals from the EU with those of other major trade partners, he did not find them to be of the same "quality," and therefore they hoped the tariff decision taken would spur the Union into action.

In early April, Trump had taken steps involving reciprocal customs duties against many trade partners, including China, the EU, and ASEAN countries. Following China's retaliatory response to this move, trade tensions between the two countries increased, and the US administration had decided to suspend the tariffs envisioned for the EU and other countries for a period of 90 days.

This 90-day period granted by the US to the European Union will expire on July 9, along with the newly determined date.

News Source: AA