European stocks declined on Thursday, with the STOXX 50 falling 1.3% and the STOXX 600 down 0.3%, as trade tensions resurfaced.
President Donald Trump announced plans to send letters to major trading partners within one to two weeks, outlining unilateral tariff rates.
The move added uncertainty to global trade dynamics.
However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled the 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs could be extended for countries showing “good faith” in negotiations.
Earlier, Trump also claimed a new trade framework with China had been finalized, though details remain pending.
On the corporate front, Deutsche Telekom slid over 3.5%, ASML lost nearly 2%, and Inditex and Siemens dropped 1.7% and 1%, respectively.
Other large-cap names like SAP, LVMH, Linde, and L’Oréal also edged lower, each down around 0.5%, contributing to the broader market weakness.