The EU has bowed to pressure and will pause its retaliatory tariffs on the US for 90 days, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has confirmed. The bloc's top official said she was keen to give negotiations with Donald Trump a chance. Posting on X, she said: "We took note of the announcement by President Trump. While finalising the adoption of the EU countermeasures that saw strong support from our Member States, we will put them on hold for 90 days."

However, she warned: "If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in. Preparatory work on further countermeasures continues. As I have said before, all options remain on the table."

Ms von der Leyen was reacting to an announcement by Mr Trump on his Truth Social platform in which he said: “I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE,” after recognising the more than 75 countries that he said have been negotiating on trade and had not retaliated against his latest increases in tariffs.

Countries subject to the pause will now be tariffed at 10%.

The EU's rate was 20%, but it was not entirely clear how the 27-nation bloc would be impacted.

China was not included- Mr Trump further increased the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%.

Before Mr Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, EU member countries voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods in response to his 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.

The EU, the largest trading partner of the US, described them as “unjustified and damaging".

The tariffs are set to go into effect in stages, some on April 15 and others on May 15 and December 1.

The Commission did not immediately provide a list of the goods.

The bloc’s top trade official has shuttled between Brussels and Washington for weeks trying to head off a conflict.

China has refused to seek talks, saying the US was insincere and that it will “fight to the end”. China has slapped tariffs on US goods of 84%, which took effect Thursday.

Mr Trump's move was seemingly an attempt to narrow what had been an unprecedented trade war between the US and most of the world to a showdown between the U.S. and China.

China has thus far focused on Europe, with a phone call between Premier Li Qiang and Ms von der Leyen “sending a positive message to the outside world.” The two are each other's largest trading partners.

The official Xinhua News Agency reported: “China is willing to work with the EU to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of China and the EU, strengthen communication and exchanges, and deepen China-EU trade, investment and industrial cooperation."