EU delays first counter tariffs against U.S. to mid-April – National [Video]

The European Union has delayed its first counter-measures against the United States over President Donald Trump’s metals tariffs until mid-April, allowing it to re-think which U.S. goods to hit and offering extra weeks for negotiations.

The European Commission had proposed re-imposing 2018 tariffs on 4.5 billion euros ($4.9 billion) of U.S. products on April 1, followed by hitting a further 18 billion euros of U.S. goods on April 13.

“We are now considering to align the timing of the two sets of EU counter-measures so we can consult with member states on both lists simultaneously, and this would also give us extra time for negotiations with our American partners,” European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told a hearing at the European Parliament on Thursday.

The commission subsequently confirmed all EU counter-measures would take effect in mid-April.

The first set of counter-measures includes applying a 50 per cent tariff on U.S. bourbon. Trump threatened to slap …