EU Pursues Swift Agreement with US... Trump Delays 50% Tariff to July

[Financial News]  The European Union (EU), facing a 50% tariff threat from the United States, has embarked on swift negotiations.
Donald Trump, the US President, has temporarily postponed the 50% tariff on imported EU products, initially set to start next month, to July.
On the 26th (local time), the Financial Times (FT) reported that some EU member state governments want a quick resolution to negotiations with the US and have urged the EU Commission to continue negotiations rather than confrontation.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni immediately had an urgent phone call following President Trump's tariff announcement, and it was reported that she conveyed the contents of the call to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, urging a resolution through negotiations.
Subsequently, von der Leyen had a phone call with President Trump, which allowed the US's 50% tariff on EU imports to be postponed to July 9, according to FT.
President Trump mentioned the call with von der Leyen on Truth Social, stating that he was informed negotiations would resume quickly.
He emphasized that the delay was to allow time for a better negotiation outcome.
An EU Commission spokesperson said the two leaders had two phone calls and agreed on a 'fast track' for negotiations.
The governments of France, Spain, Ireland, and Belgium expressed support for efforts to accelerate negotiations.
Jose Manuel Albares, Spain's Foreign Minister, stated that the call between Trump and von der Leyen shows that negotiations are heading in the right direction, and the Belgian government, which is highly dependent on exports, also welcomed the constructive approach.
On the 24th, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) analyzed and reported that the US had been dissatisfied with the slow progress of EU negotiations, and amid this, President Trump announced a 50% tariff on EU imports on the 23rd.
Last week, the US and EU exchanged letters to resume negotiations, but the EU reacted that the US proposal was unilateral, while President Trump announced the 50% tariff, stating that negotiations had lost direction.
According to FT, Italian Prime Minister Meloni proposed a summit involving President Trump, leaders of major EU economies, and EU Commission officials to resolve the trade dispute, and the upcoming NATO summit in the Netherlands next month is expected to be an opportunity for face-to-face negotiations.
Prime Minister Meloni has played a bridging role, maintaining good relations with both President Trump and President von der Leyen of the EU Commission.
Euronews reported that the EU, showing its willingness to actively engage in negotiations with the US, remains unchanged in its proposal for mutual zero tariffs.
Olof Gill, EU Trade Commission spokesperson, said there is still much to negotiate regarding mutual zero tariffs, stating, "I believe this could be a very attractive starting point for good negotiations that could lead to mutual benefits across the Atlantic."

jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-jun Reporter