Had they remained in force, they would have seen EU imports to the US taxed at 20%, but they will now be taxed at 10% like imports from most other trade partners.
“We took note of the announcement by President Trump. We want to give negotiations a chance,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement on the Commission website on Thursday. “While finalising the adoption of the EU countermeasures that saw strong support from our member states, we will put them on hold for 90 days. “
She added that the countermeasures could still be applied if negotiations are unsatisfactory.
EU member states had just voted in favor of the countermeasures – which could affect a wide range of goods worth some €20 billion ($21.9 billion) – when Trump announced the pause. According to reports, the list of goods affected was wide-ranging and included yachts, diamonds, eggs, dental floss, sausages and poultry. They indicated the EU was also considering tariffs on soybeans from December 1.
Sources close to the matter said they believed most pulp and paper products have now been removed from the list.
The 10% blanket tariff on US imports from most trade partners remains in place, and currently the US is applying a 125% tariff on China, while China has announced counter tariffs of 84%.
