Foreign powers have reacted positively to US President Donald Trump’s move to pause tariffs on much of the world, but much uncertainty remains.
Here’s a roundup of some of the reaction:
France: The Trump administration’s decision to suspend tariffs for 90 days is “the start of the return of economic reason,” the governor of the Bank of France said. But he added “two bad ingredients in the American salad” remain: unpredictability and protectionism.
Germany: Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz said Wednesday that Trump’s decision to pause planned tariff increases for most countries was a testament to European Union unity. Asked about Trump’s reversal in an interview with German broadcaster RTL, Merz said the announcement was a “reaction to the determination of the Europeans.”
Poland: Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, welcomed Trump’s decision to pause tariffs on much of the world, posting on X that Europeans and Americans should “make the most” of the three-month period to maintain “close transatlantic relations.”
UK: Trump’s pause on tariffs “reinforces” the UK government’s “pragmatic” strategy, said Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary of the United Kingdom. Asked if the last 24 hours put her off relying on the US as trading partner, Cooper said the UK is taking a “steady course” to avoid getting “buffeted around from day to day or getting into the running commentaries and reactions.”
ASEAN: Members of the Southeast Asian trading block, which were due to be particularly hard-hit by tariffs, said they commit “to not impose any retaliatory measures,” according to a joint statement. ASEAN “stands ready” to work with the US to “find balanced, forward-looking solutions that support a more resilient and sustainable global economy,” they added.