US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would pause his threatened 50-percent tariffs on the European Union until July 9, after a "very nice call" with European Commision president Ursula von der Leyen.

Trump had threatened on Friday to impose the steep duties from June 1, voicing frustration that negotiations to avert a 20-percent "reciprocal" tariff were "going nowhere".

But he agreed on Sunday to delay the tariffs until July 9 after von der Leyen said the European Union needed more time to negotiate.

Von der Leyen "just called me... and she asked for an extension on the June 1st date and she said she wants to get down to serious negotiation", Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey.

"And I agreed to do that," he added.

Von der Leyen had

See Full Page