European Union Suspends Trump's Tariff Reply For 6 Months

JAKARTA - The European Union (EU) will suspend two packages of countermeasures against the US tariff for six months following an agreement with US President Donald Trump.

The European-US Union Agreement still leaves many questions, including rates for alcoholic beverages, and Trump's executive order last week setting a rate of 15% for most of the European Union's goods does not include exceptions such as for cars and auto parts.

EU officials said they expected to soon follow other executive orders.

"Europe continues to work closely with the US to complete a Joint Statement, as agreed on July 27," a EU spokesman said.

With this aim, the Commission will take the necessary steps to suspend for 6 months the European Union's countermeasure against the US, which should have come into effect on August 7, "the statement continued.

The reply rates consist of two parts, one in response to US steel and aluminum import duties, and the other against Trump's basic rates and car fares.