EU delays retaliatory trade measures against U.S. for six months

The European Commission will propose suspending for another six months an EU package of retaliatory trade measures against the U.S. worth €93-billion (US$109.19-billion), originally set to take effect on Feb. 7; the measures were first paused after a joint EU‑U.S. trade statement in August 2025 and would remain suspendable if needed.

The European Commission said it will propose suspending for another six months an EU package of retaliatory trade measures against the United States worth €93-billion (US$109.19-billion). Those measures were due to take effect on Feb. 7 and were first put on hold after a joint EU‑U.S. trade statement in August 2025. The package was prepared during trade negotiations last year. Recent U.S. tariff threats linked to Greenland were cited as a potential trigger, but those threats have been removed. Key details: - The Commission intends to propose a roll‑over of the suspended countermeasures that are set to expire on Feb. 7. - The measures are valued at €93-billion (US$109.19-billion) and were prepared in the first half of last year amid EU‑U.S. trade talks. - The suspension was originally agreed for six months following a joint EU‑U.S. statement in August 2025. - Commission spokesman Olof Gill said the measures would remain suspended but could be unsuspended if needed. - U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened tariffs on eight European countries over Washington's push to acquire Greenland, which made the EU package a possible response while those threats were active. Summary: The proposed six‑month extension keeps the retaliatory measures on hold while officials return focus to implementing the joint EU‑U.S. statement. The immediate next step is a formal proposal from the European Commission to roll over the suspension; beyond that, future use of the measures would depend on developments between the EU and the United States.