BRUSSELS (AP) — The EU will suspend retaliatory tariffs on US goods, which will come into effect Monday, in hopes of reaching a trade deal with the Trump administration by the end of the month.
“This is now time for negotiations,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels on Sunday.
The EU – America’s biggest trading partner and the world’s largest trading bloc – was scheduled to impose a “countermass,” which begins Monday at midnight Brussels time (EDT 6pm). The EU is negotiating trade transactions on behalf of 27 member states.
Von Der Leyen said these measures were delayed until August 1, and Trump’s letters show “” until negotiations “until August 1.” European leaders have urged Trump and von der Leyen to give more time.
“It’s always clear that you prefer a negotiated solution,” she said. If they can’t reach the deal, she said, “We’re fully prepared, so we’ll continue to prepare measures.”
Alongside Indonesia’s President Prabowo Suboant, von der Leyen said trade tensions with the US “indicating the importance of diversifying our trade ties.”
Trump said his global tariffs would set the foundation for reviving the US economy, which he claims has been torn apart by other countries for decades. In a letter to the European Union, Trump said the US trade deficit poses a threat to national security.
US trading partners face months of uncertainty and on and off threats from Trump to impose tariffs, with deadlines being extended or changed from time to time. Tariffs can affect almost every aspect of the global economy.
According to Eurostat, the value of the EU-US trade in goods and services reached 1.7 trillion euros ($2 trillion) in 2024, or an average of 4.6 billion euros per day. Europe’s largest exports to the United States were drugs, automobiles, aircraft, chemicals, medical devices, wine and spirit.
Trade ministers from EU countries are scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss trade relations, as are the US and China.
Original issue: July 13th, 2025 8:21am EDT
