ISTANBUL

The EU postponed planned measures in response to US steel and aluminum tariffs until mid-April to allow time for negotiations, European Commission's Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said Thursday.

Sefcovic said the bloc will align the timing of two sets of measures the EU has prepared against the US steel and aluminum tariffs, and the Committee on International Trade will meet with member states to buy time for negotiations with the US.

He noted that if an agreement cannot be reached, the EU will recalibrate its response, taking into account the reciprocal tariffs that the US will introduce April 2.

"This approach would allow us to deliver a firm, proportionate, robust and well-calibrated response to the US measures," he said.

The US' 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports took effect March 12.

The EU announced later that day that it would impose €26 billion ($28.2 billion) in countermeasures against the US and the tariffs are scheduled to take effect in two phases -- April 1 and 13.

The EU published a list of US products that could be subject to retaliatory duties, including meat, chicken, turkey, milk and cream, nuts, coffee, fruits and vegetables, alcoholic beverages, chewing gum, electronic cigarettes, whiskey associated with the American lifestyle, clothing, hand tools, machinery and motorcycles.

US President Donald Trump announced March 13 that if a 50% tariff on whiskey produced in his country is not lifted soon, a 200% tariff would be imposed on all alcoholic products imported from the EU.