EU pauses countermeasures on U.S. tariffs for 90 days

The European Union (EU) has paused its countermeasures on U.S. trade tariffs for 90 days to allow time for EU and U.S. negotiations. 

The pause was first announced by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen April 9, and went into effect April 14. 

The decision was made in response to the U.S. delaying tariffs on imports from the EU for 90 days. In total, the suspended EU countermeasures cover €21 billion (around $28 billion) of U.S. exports. 

The commission adopted two legal acts April 14, which, respectively, impose and suspend its countermeasures: 

• The first act imposes the EU countermeasures. 
• The second act suspends all such measures until July 14, 2025.

EU countermeasures from the first act adopted:

• Calibrates the 2018 measures by reducing the duty rate level to maximum 25% across the board and revising its scope (annex I). 
• Introduces the new package of countermeasures to respond to the expansion of the U.S. tariffs to new products and the increase of U.S. tariffs on aluminum from 10 to 25% (annexes II-IV).