The European Union will postpone tariffs on US exports to the trading bloc in response to the imposition of tariffs on European aluminum and steel, which was announced by the White House in February as part of an overhaul of US trade policies.
The EU had planned to levy two tranches of tariffs on a variety of US goods, including agricultural and clothing items, beginning April 1, but announced Thursday that the countermeasures would go into effect in mid-April.
“The EU countermeasures that were announced on March 12 will all take effect in mid-April,” spokesperson Olof Gill said in a statement to The Hill.
Gill described the tariffs’ new effective date as a “slight adjustment” that would not reduce their economic impact while providing more time for negotiations.
“The change represents a slight adjustment to the timeline and does not diminish the impact of our response, in particular as the EU continues to prepare for retaliation of up to EUR 26 billion,” said Putin.
During a hearing at the European Parliament on Thursday, European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič stated that the delay will allow for further discussions with the US.
“This would also give us extra time for negotiations with our American partners,” said the minister.
In February, the White House announced that it would impose 25% steel and aluminum tariffs on the EU and several other countries under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
Section 232 tariffs apply to imports that “threaten to impair” US national security.
By exempting the EU and other countries, “the United States inadvertently created loopholes that were exploited by China and others with excess steel and aluminum capacity,” the White House stated in February.
U.S. industries that trade with Europe have urged the White House to reconsider the tariffs.
“We urge the United States and the European Union to refrain from imposing these tariffs and to engage in negotiations to resolve the underlying trade issues on steel and aluminum,” the U.S. Distilled Spirits Council, an alcoholic beverage trade group, stated earlier this month.
World leaders have responded to the Trump administration’s flurry of new tariff orders using a variety of strategies.
Some have taken President Trump’s aggressive stance head on, such as Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who has been a vocal supporter of Canada’s economic policies and imposed a surcharge on electricity exports to the United States earlier this month before withdrawing the order as part of a quick detente on both sides.
Others, such as Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, have maintained a poker face and delayed retaliatory measures as domestic pressure to reduce tariffs grew.
Sheinbaum stated earlier this month that Mexico needed to maintain a “cool head” as the US disrupted long-standing global trade practices.