EU postpones retaliatory tariffs to mid-April for further negotiations with Washington

The European Union has pushed back its first phase of retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., originally set to take effect on April 1st.

The European Commission announced on Thursday that the countermeasures will now take effect on April 13th, and all at once instead of across two stages.

The first phase originally was set to levy tariffs on U.S. exports of whiskey, motorboats and motorcycles to the EU, and the second phase on beer, poultry, beef and other produce.

The announcement also stated the postponement would allow time for negotiations with Washington, and that tariffs would be imposed without further delay should they fail to find a resolution.