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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed President Donald Trump's temporary halt on reciprocal tariffs, describing it as a chance to pursue a "frictionless" trading relationship.
She later confirmed that the EU would also pause for 90 days its planned countermeasures against Trump's tariffs to "give negotiations a chance."
However, her broader message signaled that the EU's strategic pivot away from U.S.-centric trade would continue.
Why it Matters
Trump's decision to pause tariffs comes amid growing tensions with trading partners over what the White House describes as unfair trade practices. The move is aimed at calming volatile markets and initiating renegotiations with key economic allies.
The EU, meanwhile, is signaling its intention to hedge against reliance on U.S. trade amid the unpredictability of American policy, part of a broader reshaping of the trans-Atlantic alliance as the U.S. shifts focus to China.
What to Know
Trump's reciprocal tariffs—comprising a 10 percent baseline and a 10 percent retaliatory layer—were imposed on the EU and dozens of other trading partners, spurring stock market losses and fears of a broader recession.
On Wednesday, the White House paused these tariffs for 90 days, excluding China, to facilitate negotiations with partners who had contacted the administration to work out new terms.
The pause came just hours after the European Commission authorized retaliatory measures against the U.S. over separate 25 percent steel and aluminum tariffs, planning to hit a wide range of U.S. exports with new duties starting mid-April.
The list of targeted products has not yet been published, and the EU has confirmed it is also pausing these measures—and others in the works—for 90 days too.
In a post Thursday on X, formerly Twitter, von der Leyen acknowledged the pause but said: "Europe continues to focus on diversifying its trade partnerships, engaging with countries that account for 87 percent of global trade and share our commitment to a free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas."
She also reinforced the EU's internal trade focus: "This crisis has made one thing clear: in times of uncertainty, the single market is our anchor of stability and resilience."
Trump, meanwhile, rejected von der Leyen's earlier offer for zero-for-zero industrial tariffs. He claimed it was insufficient, arguing that Europe has long benefited from U.S. defense spending under NATO while "screwing" the U.S. on trade.
What People Are Saying
Von der Leyen said in a post on X on Thursday: "Tariffs are taxes that only hurt businesses and consumers. That's why I've consistently advocated for a zero-for-zero tariff agreement between the European Union and the United States."
She added: "My team and I will continue to work day and night to protect European consumers, workers and businesses. Together, Europeans will emerge stronger from this crisis."
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday: "The EU has been very tough over the years, I always say it was formed really to do damage to the United States in trade, that's the reason it was formed...We're paying them to guard them militarily and they're screwing us on trade so that's not a good combination."
What's Next
Negotiations between U.S. trade representatives and their counterparts in Brussels are expected to continue in the coming weeks, as both sides seek to avoid a full-scale trade war while holding their strategic ground.
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About the writer
Shane Croucher is a Breaking News Editor based in London, UK. He has previously overseen the My Turn, Fact Check ... Read more