Today's Edition
Brussels (dpa)
The European Union will extend its suspension of tariffs on goods imported from the US until early August, despite Washington's decision to slap a 30% levy on imports from the bloc, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday.
"The United States have sent us a letter with measures that would come into effect unless there is a negotiated solution," she said.
"We will therefore also extend the suspension of our countermeasures till early August."
It comes after US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he will impose 30% tariffs on imports from the European Union starting August 1, despite ongoing negotiations to avert a trade war.
In a letter sent to von der Leyen and posted on his platform Truth Social, he complained of the "long-term, large and persistent" trade deficit the US has with the EU, accusing the 27-nation bloc of unfair trade policies and barriers.
Trump wrote that his administration would drop the high tariff rate if "the European Union, or countries within the EU, decide to build or manufacture within the United States."
Von der Leyen on Sunday stressed that the EU would not stand back and watch, saying her commission would continue to prepare further countermeasures in the coming weeks so "we are fully prepared."
Following Trump's letter, the EU could have imposed initial countertariffs in response to earlier US levies on steel and aluminium products from the bloc from Tuesday after the initial suspension expired.
