The European Union and the United States have taken the first formal steps toward reviving trade negotiations, following a mutual decision to suspend a new round of retaliatory tariffs for 90 days.
On Monday, European Commission Vice President and Trade Chief Maroš Šefčovič arrived in Washington for high-level talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The meetings are aimed at resetting a tense transatlantic trade relationship that had again been strained by new U.S. tariffs introduced earlier this month.
The breakthrough came after President Donald Trump agreed to temporarily pause the implementation of newly proposed 10% tariffs on European industrial goods. In response, Brussels froze its own planned countermeasures, which included duties on U.S. products worth up to €21 billion.
The EU hopes the current 90-day ceasefire will create conditions for what Šefčovič described as “meaningful negotiations.” According to sources familiar with the talks, both sides are exploring the possibility of reducing tariffs even further — potentially below the 10% threshold — after President Trump hinted that “exceptions” may be possible for allies.
The EU has proposed a “zero-for-zero” industrial tariff agreement, calling for the elimination of duties on both sides. However, the Trump administration has signaled that more substantial concessions are expected from Brussels — particularly in terms of increased imports of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) and agricultural products.
“If the EU wants access, they have to show serious commitment,” a senior U.S. trade official said, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the discussions.
Earlier in April, President Trump authorized a new round of tariffs targeting imports from several global partners, including the EU. The move, part of his broader “America First 2.0” economic strategy, reignited fears of a renewed trade war, echoing the tensions of 2018–2020.
The EU quickly drafted retaliatory measures but paused implementation following Trump’s decision to delay the tariffs. Now, both parties are using this diplomatic window to test whether compromise is still possible.
If the current talks fail to produce tangible results within the 90-day window, both sides have made it clear they are prepared to reinstate — and possibly escalate — tariff measures.
The European Commission is also considering new mechanisms to respond to U.S. digital trade restrictions, agricultural disputes, and what it sees as “non-market behaviors” in American subsidy programs.
Still, the mood this week is one of cautious optimism. Officials on both sides suggest that the willingness to talk — even after months of tit-for-tat threats — is a promising sign.
