EU pushes back tariff response to Trump duties

13 hours ago 2
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The European Union (EU) postponed its planned targeting of US goods in retaliation for Trump administration levies on steel and aluminum until mid-April.

The tariffs were supposed to go into force on April 1, but the EU decided to give two more weeks for dialogue despite the fact US President Donald Trump's duties were already enacted.

A second set of tariffs targeting US industrial and agricultural goods is also planned.

According to EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, the decision came as a bid to "try to find a mutually agreeable resolution."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen previously said it was the EU's responsibility to protect consumers and businesses in the bloc.

The 27-member bloc was about to reinstate tariffs on jeans, bourbon, motorcycles and peanut butter, tariffs which dated back to Trump's first term as US president.

Bourbon, motorcycles and peanut butter affected?

The EU's move was intended to target US states controlled by Trump's Republican Party, as well as goods that the EU thinks would cause damage to American business to an extent that would result in the US president rowing back duties on European goods.

France, Spain and Italy pushed the European Commission to delay the measures, the French AFP news agency reported, citing two European sources.

The AFP report also suggested bourbon could potentially be withdrawn from the list of targeted goods. This comes as Trump threatened 200% tariffs on European wine and spirits.

Trump could slap more tariffs on the EU on April 2, though his administration has not yet released the full details.

Edited by: Sean Sinico

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