The European Union has announced a 90-day postponement of retaliatory tariffs against the United States, following President Trump’s last-minute decision to hit pause on some levies. The move comes as a relief to Europe, but leaves uncertainty over what is next.
European leaders had voted to impose tariffs on $23 billion of US imports just before Mr. Trump made his announcement. However, the delay does not cancel these measures, and higher tariffs remain in place for cars and key metals.
The EU had approved levies ranging from 10% to 25% on various US goods, including soybeans, peanut butter, and hair spray. Despite the pause, the 25% tariffs on cars, steel, and aluminum seem to be still in place.
“This crisis has made one thing clear,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “In times of uncertainty, the single market is our anchor of stability and resilience.”
The EU will now take a 90-day pause to negotiate with the US, which could lead to a possible zero-for-zero tariff agreement. However, Europeans remain concerned about the lingering impact of US tariffs on China, Germany’s auto sector, and potential pharmaceutical tariffs.
As Europe pauses retaliation, it is taking a multipronged approach to address the issue. The EU has offered to negotiate with the US, struck trade deals with new partners, and pushed forward with efforts to cut red tape and increase industry domestically.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/world/europe/european-union-trump-tariffs-pause.html