At the end of May 2025, Trump initially announced the imposition of a 50% tariff on all imports from the EU starting June 1, arguing that trade negotiations with the bloc were not advancing and that the EU had "taken advantage" of the United States. This measure caused a drop in financial markets and global concern over a possible escalation of a transatlantic trade war.
However, after a call with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on May 25, 2025, Trump agreed to delay the implementation of these tariffs until July 9, giving new momentum to the negotiations.