After US U-turn, EU halts counter-tariffs for 90 days

Brussels, Belgium: EC chief Ursula von der Leyen indicated on Thursday that the EU would temporarily halt its planned tariffs on U.S. goods to allow room for negotiations, following President Donald Trump’s decision to delay the imposition of massive duties.

The 27-member EU had already approved initial retaliatory measures against U.S. products in response to American tariffs on steel and aluminium, though it had not yet announced response to Trump’s wider tariff plans, which are now halted for 90 days.

European Commission president explained that, although the countermeasures had strong backing from EU member states, their implementation would be delayed for the 90-day period.

She also made it clear that if the talks do not yield satisfactory results, the EU will move forward with its planned countermeasures, AFP reported.

The European Union has approved measures targeting over 20 billion euros' worth of U.S. goods, such as soybeans, motorcycles, and beauty products.

These steps are part of the bloc’s response to U.S. tariffs, which hit the EU at a 20% rate, as well as those placed on the car sector, and von der Leyen emphasised that "preparatory work on further countermeasures continues".

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the EU is continuing to prepare additional countermeasures, noting that all possibilities remain under consideration. Despite this, Brussels has consistently expressed a preference to avoid retaliation

In a previous statement, von der Leyen had welcomed Trump’s decision to pause the planned tariffs, describing it as a positive move toward stabilizing the global economy.

She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to engaging in constructive talks with the U.S. and reiterated the bloc’s proposal for bilateral tariff exemptions on cars and other industrial products.