EU suspends retaliatory 25% tariffs on US goods for 90 days | World News

Donald Trump’s surprise climbdown to pause the hefty tariffs he had just imposed on dozens of countries brought a wave of reactions from all corners of the globe. While the European Union has suspended its retaliatory 25 per cent tariffs on US goods for 90 days, China said that Beijing’s door remains open for the talks, but threats and coercion are not the right way to deal.
The president of European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU would put on hold for 90 days the countermeasures – 25 per cent tariffs on US goods – that it had agreed on Wednesday. “We want to give negotiations a chance,” she said. “If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in.”
In an earlier statement that did not mention the EU countermeasures, Leyen welcomed the US president’s 90-day pause, reiterating the EU’s readiness to negotiate a trade agreement with Washington.
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The sudden and chaotic U-turn the White House on Wednesday means that until July, all the countries except China will now face a 10 per cent duty on exports to the US, replacing the 20 per cent “reciprocal tariff” rate that was in effect for just a few hours. However, Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on steel, aluminium, and cars remain unchanged.

Von der Leyen described Trump’s move to pause the steeper tariffs as “an important step towards stabilising the global economy.”
‘Door remains open’
Speaking during a regular press briefing, Chinese Minry of Commerce spokesperson He Yongqian, said, “China’s position is clear and consent. If the US wants to talk, our door remains open, but dialogue must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect and equality.”

Beijing also urged the US to meet it “halfway”, although it is also willing to “fight to the end”, the spokesperson added, saying “Pressure, threats, and coercion are not the right way to deal with China.”Story continues below this ad

On Wednesday, Trump raised tariffs on China to 125 per cent “starting immediately” after Beijing refused to back down against his threats and “blackmail” and raised its retaliatory levies to 84 per cent after the Washington imposed a 104 per cent tariff on Chinese goods on Tuesday.
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