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," von der Leyen said in a statement.

"If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in," the EU Commission chief added.

EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said later on Thursday that he spoke to his US counterparts, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

"Another call... as we're set to suspend EU countermeasures and enter meaningful negotiations. Constant communication and daily updates keep us moving forward," he said on X.

The EU measures approved Wednesday target more than 20 billion euros' worth of US products including soybeans, motorcycles and beauty products.

The bloc is still working on its response to Trump's universal tariffs -- which hit the European Union at a rate of 20 percent -- and the ones imposed on the auto sector, and von der Leyen noted that "preparatory work on further countermeasures continues". 

"All options remain on the table," she said.

But Brussels has made it clear it would prefer to avoid retaliation.

In an earlier statement, von der Leyen welcomed Trump's decision to pause his planned tariffs as an "important step towards stabilising the global economy".

She said the EU "remains committed to constructive negotiations with the United States" and reiterated the bloc's offer of a bilateral tariff exemption for cars and other industrial goods.