EU trade chief urges US to ‘swiftly’ restore 15% tariff arrangement

Published on 05/05/2026 - 19:06 GMT+2

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič connected Tuesday urged the US to honour its broadside of the EU-US commercialized woody during a gathering successful Paris with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Tensions person escalated successful caller days implicit the implementation of the EU-US commercialized woody reached astir a twelvemonth agone successful Turnberry, Scotland, aft US President Donald Trump threatened to enforce 25% tariffs connected EU cars, successful breach of the statement capping US tariffs connected EU goods astatine 15%.

The statement was further shaken successful February aft the White House introduced caller tariffs pursuing a US Supreme Court ruling declaring the 2025 tariffs illegal.

A European Commission spokesperson said Tuesday that during the 90-minute gathering with Greer, Šefčovič called for a “swift return” to the agreed Turnberry terms, meaning “a 15% all-inclusive tariff rate.”

The US presently imposes a 10% tariff connected EU goods connected apical of duties already successful spot earlier Trump’s instrumentality to the White House successful 2025, with rates varying crossed EU products. Combined duties tin present scope arsenic overmuch arsenic 30% connected definite EU exports, specified arsenic cheese, exceeding the 15% headdress established successful the EU–US agreement.

During the meeting, Šefčovič besides updated his counterpart connected the EU's implementation of the agreement, the spokesperson said, “to clarify” wherever the EU “stands.”

Washington wants Brussels to accelerate the EU legislative process needed to instrumentality the deal, including the bloc’s committedness to chopped tariffs connected US concern goods to zero.

But negotiations betwixt EU governments and members of the European Parliament stay tense.

MEPs privation to adhd safeguards that would marque EU tariff cuts conditional connected the US implementing its broadside of the agreement. They are besides pushing for a “sunset clause” that would terminate the woody successful March 2028 unless renewed.

The European Parliament’s presumption is backed by France, portion Germany and different subordinate states privation to sphere the archetypal statement struck successful July 2025 by Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

A circular of dialog is scheduled for Wednesday evening.