On May 23, President Donald Trump escalated transatlantic trade tensions by declaring on Truth Social that the European Union had been “very difficult to deal with”, calling the EUs trade deficit against the US “totally unacceptable”.
– Our discussions with them are going nowhere, Trump said, and announced his recommendation for a 50 percent tariff on EU goods starting June 1, 2025. Even though he previously postponed the implementation of new tariffs until July 9.
On the evening of May 25, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen writes on X that she has had a phone call with the American president where they discussed trade. She describes the conversation as “good”.
– The EU and US share the world’s most consequential and close trade relationship, she writes, adding that the EU would need until July 9 to reach a good deal.