New Delhi, April 14 -- EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that the bloc would put planned tariffs on US goods on hold "to give negotiations a chance" after President Donald Trump's U-turn on massive duties.

The 27-nation bloc on Wednesday approved its first measures targeting US products, in retaliation for duties on steel and aluminium exports. It had yet to announce a response to Trump's universal tariffs -- which he has now paused for 90 days.

"While finalising the adoption of the EU countermeasures that saw strong support from our member states, we will put them on hold for 90 days," the European Commission president said in a statement.

"If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in."

The EU meas...