US President Donald Trump has declared his decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on the European Union a success, claiming that the boost has forced the bloc to speed up negotiations.

“I was extremely pleased with the 50 per cent tariff on the European Union, especially since they were (to put it mildly!) delaying our negotiations with them,” the US president wrote on the social network Truth Social.

“Remember, I have the authority to ‘PUT TARIFFS’ on trade with the United States if we do not reach a deal or if we are treated unfairly. I have just been informed that the EU has called to set up meeting dates soon. This is a positive development and I hope that, finally, as I have asked China, it will open up European countries to trade with the United States. Both will be very happy and successful if it happens,” he added.

The statement comes after a relative calm in relations between Brussels and Washington, after talks between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday led to the postponement of a 50 percent tariff on all European goods from June 1 to July 9.

The talks marked a positive turn in negotiations between the two sides, after months of growing dissatisfaction among Europeans because Washington did not accept the bloc’s proposals, but demanded unilateral concessions. The talks between Trump and Von der Leyen on Sunday gave “a new impetus” to negotiations between the two sides, Paula Pinho, the European Commission’s chief spokeswoman, said yesterday.

“And from there we will continue. It is positive to see that there is commitment at the level of the president, and from our side we have always said that we are ready to reach an agreement,” Pinho said.