EU does not want 'Trump tariff'

European Commission Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic made a statement on his social media account following a phone call with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Stating that the meeting was constructive, Sefcovic said, "The European Commission remains fully committed to constructive and focused efforts toward an EU-US trade agreement." Sefcovic also noted that EU and US officials continue to remain in constant communication.

US President Donald Trump announced in a post on the social media platform Truth Social on May 23 that trade negotiations with the EU had been inconclusive, and proposed that a 50 percent direct customs duty be applied to EU products starting June 1.

Following Trump's announcement, a phone call took place between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the US President, after which the US side announced that the 50 percent tariff decision had been postponed until July 9, 2025. The European Commission, for its part, had announced that trade agreement negotiations would be accelerated during this period.