US President Donald Trump's tariffs on imports from European Union members and dozens of other countries were set to take effect on Thursday.
Just minutes before the tariffs were due to kick in, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that they would take effect at midnight Washington time (0400 GMT).
In a post, he wrote: "BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, LARGELY FROM COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR MANY YEARS,LAUGHING ALL THE WAY, WILL START FLOWING INTO THE USA."
The European Commission had so far assumed that the new tariff rate would apply as of Friday.
The new and varied tariff rates affect imports from around 70 countries, including the 27 EU member states. The EU has pledged to make significant investments in the US alongside accepting the 15% tariff. The exact terms and timing of those investments are still under negotiation.
Trump has defended his aggressive tariff policy by pointing to alleged trade deficits that he says threaten US national security,framing the issue as a national emergency that requires such measures. His approach has sparked legal controversy.Two major trade partners - China and Mexico - are on different tariff timelines as trade negotiations continue.
Trump has meanwhile threatened, or already ordered, additional tariffs on countries accused of conducting business with Russia,arguing such ties indirectly support Moscow's war against Ukraine.
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