The European Commission has announced a two-week delay in reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods, which are now set to go into effect in mid-April. The commission announced these tariffs in response to the 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports imposed by the U.S. that began March 12. The commission initially planned to introduce tariffs in phases, with some beginning April 1 and the rest going into effect April 13. Now, the commission says it plans to impose them all at once in mid-April, pending negotiations.
The percentages of the tariffs and the products that would be affected have not been announced. Stakeholder feedback has been collected, and based on the information received, the commission will finalize its proposal for countermeasures and consult with member states.
“At the moment, there is not enough clarity on what the percentage level of such tariffs would be, what goods they would cover, and how they will apply. I am engaging with my U.S. counterparts to better understand the U.S. plans and look for possible solutions…on April 2, we will need to assess the action taken by the U.S. and keep a flexible approach so as to calibrate our response accordingly,” said Maroš Šefčovič, European commissioner for trade and economic security, at a Committee on International Trade hearing March 19.
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