European markets opened lower on Wednesday as uncertainty over the direction of U.S. trade tariffs continues to dent sentiment.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was 0.93% lower at 8:45 a.m. U.K. time following two strong sessions of gains. Critical chip firm ASML dropped 5.5% after it missed expectations on net bookings and flagged uncertainty around U.S. trade. Industry peer ASM International was pulled 3.85% lower.

U.K. inflation data for March came in at 2.6% in March, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics on Wednesday, below the 2.7% forecast in a Reuters poll.

ASML and Heineken's earnings are also in focus for investors in Europe Wednesday.

Investors will meanwhile be assessing the latest Chinese growth data, as well as industrial production figures and retail sales amid a new era of tariffs under U.S. President Donald Trump.

Chinese state data out Wednesday showed the economy expanded by a better-than-expected 5.4% in the first quarter, although the tariff threat prompted major investment banks to cut the country's annual growth outlook.

Source: CNBC