Euro zone bond yields steady as Trump tariff deadline arrives

LONDON, July 9 (Reuters) - Euro zone government bond yields were little changed on Wednesday as investors took U.S. President Donald Trump's plans for additional import levies in their stride, on the day when his original 90-day tariff pause was due to expire.

Trump broadened his trade war late on Tuesday, threatening a 50% tariff on imported copper and levies on the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries, one day after announcing larger tariffs on 14 trade partners, including Japan and South Korea.

Trump added that a minimum of seven letters to countries outlining higher tariffs would be released on Wednesday morning and more in the afternoon.

Bond market investors in Europe were waiting for an update on Washington's trade talks with the European Union. Some EU sources told Reuters on Monday that the bloc was close to an agreement with the Trump administration.

Germany's 10-year bond yield DE10YT=RR, the euro zone's benchmark, was down less than 1 basis point at 2.634%. It hit its highest since May 16 on Tuesday at 2.668%. The 30-year yield DE30YT=RR was down 1.5 bps at 3.152%.

"In absence of a more tangible trigger, 10y and 30y Bund yields are unlikely to establish ranges above the May highs," said Commerzbank rates strategist Hauke Siemssen.

Germany's policy-sensitive 2-year yield DE2YT=RR was little changed at 1.863%.

Italy's 10-year yield IT10YT=RR, the benchmark for the euro zone's periphery, was down 1 bp at 3.552%, keeping the spread between Italian and German 10-year yields DE10IT10=RR steady at about 91 bps.