EU to Halt Counter-Tariffs After Trump Sets 90-Day Pause

By Joshua Kirby

The European Union is putting on hold its planned tariffs on U.S. products after President Trump said he would pause a major part of his administration's own tariffs on goods, including from Europe.

"We took note of the announcement by President Trump. We want to give negotiations a chance," said Ursula von der Leyen, president of EU executive the European Commission.

"While finalizing the adoption of the EU countermeasures that saw strong support from our member states, we will put them on hold for 90 days," Von der Leyen said in a statement Thursday.

President Trump on Wednesday said his administration would enact a 90-day pause on so-called reciprocal tariffs for all trading partners except China, which he said would be hit with an ever steeper trade levy.

That pause offered a reprieve to European firms from the 20% blanket duty set to be imposed on their goods imported into the U.S. A 25% tariff on European metals and cars will remain in place, however. The EU earlier Wednesday had set out its own package of tariffs on U.S. goods including soybeans, motorcycles and chewing gum, though with certain key sectors excluded from the duties.

"Preparatory work on further countermeasures continues," Von der Leyen said. "As I have said before, all options remain on the table."

Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby