President Donald Trump is taking a bow for his 50% tariffs targeting the European Union’s trade barriers for American goods and services having brought some progress toward talks to a new deal for free and fair trade between the U.S. and Europe.
“I was extremely satisfied with the 50% tariff allotment on the European Union, especially since they were ‘slow walking’ (to put it mildly!) our negotiations with them,” Trump posted Tuesday on Truth Social. “Remember, I am empowered to ‘set a deal’ for trade into the United States if we are unable to make a deal, or are treated unfairly.”
“I have just been informed that the EU has called to quickly establish meeting dates,” Trump added.
While trade talks with Mexico and Canada have made headlines for having roiled U.S. border neighbors, Trump has been most critical of the trade barriers on American companies in Europe and China, but Europe’s move toward negotiations could be a precursor to progress with China, too, Trump continued.
“This is a positive event, and I hope that they will, finally, like my same demand to China, open up the European nations for trade with the United States of America,” Trump wrote.
“They will both be very happy, and successful, if they do!!!”
Europe has mostly gone unchallenged in keeping American goods and services out of its EU member nations, but Trump’s work to rebalance the global trade order has the EU’s attention now.
European policymakers have asked the bloc’s leading companies and CEOs to swiftly provide detail of their U.S. investment plans, sources told Reuters, as Brussels prepares for trade talks with Washington.
Members of the Confederation of European Business, also known as BusinessEurope, an alliance of 42 federations across the region, received a survey from the European Commission on Monday. It asked for information on upcoming U.S. investments with the instruction to respond as soon as possible, one source said.
A similar note seeking information on investment plans for the next five years was sent to the 59-person European Roundtable for Industry, a second source said, with a note that the request came personally from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Frustrated at the slow pace of negotiations, Trump threatened to raise tariffs on the bloc to 50% on June 1 but has put a pause on that after a call with von der Leyen on Sunday.
EU diplomats briefed late Monday said they were told the two leaders did not go into substance but agreed contacts should increase and talks accelerate.
European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on Monday spoke in what he described as good calls with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, with whom he has previously had tougher talks.
“The EU Commission remains fully committed to constructive efforts at pace toward an EU-U.S. deal. We continue to stay in constant contact,” he wrote on X.
Material from Reuters was used to compile this report.
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