European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump in an effort to de-escalate growing trade tensions between the European Union and the United States, Rks News reports.
In a statement following the call, von der Leyen described the conversation with President Trump as “good and constructive.” She emphasized the EU’s commitment to accelerate negotiations and reach a sustainable and mutually beneficial agreement.
“The EU and the U.S. share the most important and closest trade relationship in the world. Europe is ready to move negotiations forward swiftly and decisively,” von der Leyen wrote, adding that achieving a good agreement will require time until July 9.
The call comes amid U.S. threats to impose additional 50% tariffs on EU imports.
President Trump, in a post on his platform Truth Social, claimed negotiations with Brussels have been ineffective and labeled the annual $250 billion trade deficit with the EU as “unacceptable.”
“The $250 billion annual trade deficit is unacceptable,” said Trump, noting that the tariffs would not apply to products manufactured within the United States.
The new tariffs are expected to take effect on June 1 unless both sides reach a solution beforehand. Von der Leyen is requesting an extension of the deadline to July 9 to allow room for a deal that avoids further economic disruption across the transatlantic partnership.
