The European Union (EU) has delayed plans to hit back at US President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs until the middle of next month.
The trading bloc was set to impose duties on US products, including a 50% levy on whiskey, from 1 April to which Trump then responded with a 200% alcohol tariff threat.
In a move that could calm the dispute, the EU said on Thursday it would push back its tariffs, saying it wanted “additional time for discussions” with the US.
It comes as global leaders try to respond to the White House’s trade threats, including looming “reciprocal” tariffs Trump has promised to announce on 2 April.
Over the last week, leaders in France and Italy – home to many wine exporters who would be affected if Trump carried out his threat – have criticised the EU for its escalation in response to Trump.
The EU had initially said its tariffs would unfold in two phases, with a first set of duties coming into force on 1 April and a second round on 13 April.
EU Spokesperson Olof Gill said on Thursday delaying the first round of US tariffs until 13 April was “a slight adjustment to the timeline and does not diminish the impact of our response”.
He said officials planned to consult with EU members on the items from the US that will be targeted.
“In the meantime, the EU continues to be ready to engage in constructive dialogue with the US, in order to seek a solution that avoids unnecessary harm to both economies,” he said.
He declined to say if the EU had made any headway discussing the issue after reaching out to the Trump administration.
Distilled Spirits Council president Chris Swonger, who represents US alcohol-makers in the US, welcomed the EU’s tariff delay.
“This is a very positive development and gives US distillers a glimmer of hope that a devastating 50% tariff on American whiskey can be averted,” he said, urging the two sides to reach an agreement that would preserve “zero-for-zero” tariffs for the spirits trade.
The White House is in the middle of preparing to announce another round of tariffs on countries around the world, with the EU expected to be one of the major trading partners affected.
While it remains unclear how the duties will be set, Trump has talked up the plans for the tariffs, which he says are aimed at countries that have trade practices that hurt US exports.
White House officials have made clear that the EU will be a target, with Trump floating a plan for a 25% tariff on all European products earlier this year.
Though the EU’s average tariffs are not much higher than those imposed by the US, the US has long complained about other kinds of rules, such as those barring trace levels of pesticides, that they say put American products at a disadvantage.
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