Donald Trump's trade war increasingly resembles a rodeo, with onlookers struggling to keep up with its twists and turns. After threatening the European Union on Friday, May 23, with 50% tariffs as of June 1, the US president reversed course Sunday evening. He announced that he would push back his ultimatum until July 9 – a return more or less to the original timeline. That date marks the end of the three-month period he had given the world in early April before the introduction of his "reciprocal tariffs."

In summary, little happened. However, the episode – coming shortly after he backed down in a similar standoff with China – spoke volumes about the highly personal way Trump conducts diplomatic and trade relations.

The change of heart came Sunday evening, after a phone conversation with Ursula von der Leyen. The president of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, described the exchange as a "good call" on X and recalled that the EU and the US "share the world's most consequential and close trade relationship." She said the 27 member states would need more time, until July, to advance negotiations. "I agreed to the extension – July 9, 2025 – It was my privilege to do so," Trump posted on Truth Social, as he returned from a weekend at his New Jersey golf club.

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