Trump retains tariff stress on China, EU welcomes pause – DW – 04/10/2025 | EUROtoday

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s resolution to pause for 90 days the hefty commerce duties he had imposed on most nations.

Von der Leyen mentioned the US president’s newest resolution was an “important step” in stabilizing the worldwide economic system, which has been thrown into appreciable disarray by the US’ current commerce strikes.

“Clear, predictable conditions are essential for trade and supply chains to function,” she mentioned.

“The European Union remains committed to constructive negotiations with the United States, with the goal of achieving frictionless and mutually beneficial trade.”

Trump’s resolution on Wednesday to pause the tariffs got here after EU member states — besides Hungary — authorized retaliatory tariffs on €20.9 billion ($23 billion) in US items as a response to earlier tariffs imposed by Trump on imports of metal and aluminum from the bloc.

The EU says it’s nonetheless engaged on countermeasures towards separate US tariffs of 20% on European automotive imports.

No response has but been formulated to Trump’s 20% tariffs on imports from the EU that went into pressure on Wednesday earlier than their fast suspension.

Members of the 27-country bloc on Wednesday once more mentioned they would favor a negotiated deal to settle commerce points, describing the US tariffs as “unjustified and damaging.”

China is constant to hunt enough responses because it stays the goal of large US commerce tariffs regardless of US President Donald Trump’s turnaround resolution on Wednesday to pause the hefty levies he had simply imposed on dozens of different nations.

Trump has raised the tariff on Chinese imports to the US to 125%, up from the 104% levy that went into pressure on Wednesday.

Beijing, in its flip, might effectively as soon as extra up the 84% tariffs it utilized to US imports on Wednesday in retaliation to Trump’s preliminary transfer.

It has vowed to “fight to the end” within the commerce warfare that’s quickly escalating between the world’s two high economies.

China says it has held talks with the European Union and Malaysia on enhancing commerce ties in response to the frictions with the US.

It additionally mentioned it had filed a protest with the World Trade Organization (WTO), complaining of “bullying” techniques by the Trump administration.

According to the Reuters information company, Chinese corporations that use US expertise firm Amazon to promote merchandise are additionally making ready to both increase their costs for the US or go away the market.

Trump, who says he raised the tariffs on Chinese imports in response to China’s “lack of respect” for international markets, has insisted {that a} commerce settlement shall be reached with Beijing.

“A deal’s going to be made with China,” Trump mentioned, whereas including that China’s leaders “don’t quite know how to go about it.”

China is the second largest supplier of imports to the US after Mexico.

After US President Donald Trump’s 90-day reprieve of sweeping tarrifs Wedensday afternoon, main inventory indicies within the US surged as traders piled again into equities.

The White House mentioned that Trump’s “pause” signifies that the “tariff level will be brought down to a universal 10% tariff.”

Tariffs on Chinese imports, nevertheless, haven’t been supplied such respite, as Trump mentioned Wednesday afternoon he was elevating duties on Chinese imports to 125% in reponse to China slapping its personal levies of 84% on US items earlier within the day.

Despite the escalating tit-for-tat tariffs, Trump predicted “a deal’s going to be made with China.”

Markets Thursday have proven a blended response. Asian markets surged, making up for file losses earlier within the week. US futures have been largely flat on Thursday morning.

Uncertainty additionally stays over how the Trump administration will reply to EU measures focusing on €20 billion value of US merchandise introduced yesterday in retaliation for American duties on international metal and aluminum exports.