EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday she held a “good call” with US President Donald Trump following his threat of 50 per cent tariffs on the bloc, vowing to move “swiftly” to reach a trade deal with Washington.
“The EU and US share the world’s most consequential and close trade relationship,” the president of the European Commission, which conducts trade policy for the 27-nation bloc, posted on social media.
“Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively,” she wrote, adding: “To reach a good deal, we would need the time until July 9.”
Trump later on Sunday said he agreed to extend the deadline until July 9.
Brussels and the United States have been negotiating in a bid to avert an all-out transatlantic trade war, and had agreed to suspend tariff action on both sides until July.
But Trump dramatically upped the stakes on Friday, complaining that talks with the 27-nation EU were “going nowhere” and threatening a 50 per cent tariff on all EU imports to the United States starting on June 1.
Trump said on Friday he was “not looking for a deal” with the EU, repeating his oft-stated view that the bloc was created to “take advantage” of the United States.
