EU Suspends Countermeasures for 90 Days After Trump’s Tariff Pause
The European Union agreed on Thursday to suspend for 90 days the countermeasures it had prepared in response to U.S. tariffs, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a temporary pause and in an effort to allow negotiations to proceed.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed the decision on X, stating, “We took note of the announcement by President Trump. We want to give negotiations a chance.”
Von der Leyen said the EU had finalized its retaliatory measures with strong backing from member states but would now delay their implementation for three months. She cautioned, however, that the EU would proceed with its response if talks with Washington do not yield satisfactory results.
“If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in,” she warned, noting that the European Commission is still preparing additional possible steps. “As I have said before, all options remain on the table.”
Trump’s announcement on Wednesday of a 90-day tariff reprieve for most countries sparked positive reactions from markets, though China was excluded and instead saw its tariff rate hiked to 125%. The EU’s move to hold off on retaliation highlights a cautious but hopeful approach to resolving transatlantic trade tensions.
