EU suspends countermeasures against the US for 90 days in hope of negotiations

The European Union has announced a temporary suspension of planned trade countermeasures against the United States for 90 days, according to a statement by Ursula von der Leyen on her X account.

The decision follows a statement by former President Donald Trump and aims to create conditions for negotiations. Brussels emphasizes that negotiations are the priority, but if there are no satisfactory results, the EU will immediately activate its prepared measures.

Work on additional sanctions continues. A European Commission spokesperson noted that "all options remain on the table," signaling the EU’s determination to protect the interests of its member states.

Earlier, EU countries approved the introduction of tariffs on American goods. The measure was a response to US tariffs on European steel and aluminum announced in March.

The European Commission considers Washington’s move unjustified and dangerous for global trade. The retaliatory tariffs are set to take effect on April 15 after formal procedures are completed. The EU has expressed its willingness to negotiate and may suspend the measures if a mutually beneficial agreement is reached with the US.

It was earlier reported that following Donald Trump’s unexpected announcement of a 90-day suspension of tariffs — excluding those on China — the S&P 500 index surged by 7% in just one hour. The sharp rise came amid his cryptic posts on Truth Social, sparking a strong market reaction.