EU-US Trade Talks Restart After Trump Postpones Steel Tariffs

President Trump’s decision over the weekend to postpone the implementation of 50 percent tariffs on European Union steel imports by more than a month has been welcomed by officials on both sides as a chance to revive trade negotiations and potentially reach a deal.

Following a phone call with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, Trump announced on his social media platform that talks would commence swiftly.

At a news briefing on Monday, a European Commission spokesperson described the leaders’ discussion as providing fresh momentum to the ongoing negotiations.

However, significant challenges remain. The U.S. and the EU continue to hold divergent priorities, which could impede reaching a swift agreement. It is also uncertain whether either side has adjusted its demands or proposals since the tariffs were first announced.

The objective is to finalize some form of resolution before the new deadline of July 9, when the tariffs are now scheduled to take effect, postponed from the original June 1 date.

Negotiations are set to resume immediately, with the EU’s trade commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, scheduled to speak by phone with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Monday afternoon.