The EU has bowed to pressure and will pause its retaliatory tariffs on the US for 90 days. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was keen to give negotiations with Donald Trump a chance. Posting on X, she said: “We took note of the announcement by President Trump. We want to give negotiations a chance. While finalising the adoption of the EU countermeasures that saw strong support from our Member States, we will put them on hold for 90 days.”

However, she warned: “If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in. Preparatory work on further countermeasures continues. As I have said before, all options remain on the table.”

She was reacting to an announcement by Mr Trump on his Truth Social platform in which he said: “I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE,” Trump said, after recognising the more than 75 countries that he said have been negotiating on trade and had not retaliated against his latest increases in tariffs.

Countries subject to the pause will now be tariffed at 10%. The EU’s rate was 20%, but it was not entirely clear how the 27-nation bloc would be impacted.

China was not included. Trump further increased the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%.

Before Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, EU member countries voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods in response to his 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.

The EU, the largest trading partner of the US, described them as “unjustified and damaging”.

The tariffs are set to go into effect in stages, some on April 15 and others on May 15 and December 1.

The Commission did not immediately provide a list of the goods.

The bloc’s top trade official has shuttled between Brussels and Washington for weeks trying to head off a conflict.

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