The European Commission has announced a 90-day suspension on the rollout of retaliatory tariffs against the United States, offering space for renewed diplomatic talks. The move comes in response to recent statements by President Donald Trump, who temporarily paused the implementation of new U.S. tariffs on most countries—except China.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the EU’s countermeasures are ready and backed by strong support from member states. However, she said their activation would be postponed for three months to allow time for dialogue. If talks fail to produce meaningful results, she added, the EU will move forward with its planned measures. Preparations for additional steps remain ongoing, and “all options remain on the table,” she said.
The EU’s decision closely followed President Trump’s own announcement of a 90-day deferral on sweeping new tariffs for a wide range of U.S. trading partners. China, however, was excluded from the pause and now faces a 125% import duty. The move caused a noticeable surge in global markets, with indexes such as the FTSE 100 and S&P 500 posting strong gains.
Despite this temporary easing of tensions, uncertainty continues to cloud the future of U.S.–EU trade relations. Von der Leyen previously proposed a “zero-for-zero” agreement to eliminate industrial tariffs on both sides, but no formal deal has yet been reached.
The coming weeks are expected to test the willingness of both Washington and Brussels to find common ground before the tariff pause expires.
