US President Donald Trump has moved to avoid an immediate collision with the EU and Japan on trade by deferring a decision to impose tariffs on automotive products by up to six months, according to people familiar with the matter. 

The delay proposed by the Trump administration is merely a reprieve for officials in Brussels and Tokyo, as well as car industry executives who would be most affected by the action — since the threat of levies from Washington will remain on the table for most of 2019. 

Mr Trump and top officials made the decision ahead of a Saturday deadline to take action following a confidential report delivered in February to the White House from the commerce department, which outlined the  national security risk posed by foreign vehicles and automotive components.