EU Warns US to Honour Trade Pact After Trump Reimposes 15% Tariffs

The European Union has urged the United States to uphold the commitments made under last year’s transatlantic trade agreement after President Donald Trump reinstated 15% tariffs, despite a ruling by the US Supreme Court that had invalidated his earlier global tariff measures.

Following the court’s decision, which deemed Trump’s sweeping tariff policy illegal, the US administration moved swiftly to raise tariffs from 10% to 15%. The European Commission responded firmly, stating that the current developments undermine the spirit of the “fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial” trade framework agreed upon by both sides.

“A deal is a deal,” the Commission said, emphasizing that Washington must provide full clarity on its next steps in light of the Supreme Court’s judgment. The tone of the latest statement was noticeably stronger than its initial reaction, when the Commission had only indicated it was reviewing the situation while remaining in contact with US officials.

Under the agreement reached last year, most EU goods entering the US were subject to a 15% tariff, while certain products, including aircraft and spare parts, enjoyed zero-tariff treatment. Some sector-specific measures, such as those affecting steel, were excluded from the deal. In exchange, the EU removed import duties on various American products and abandoned plans for retaliatory tariffs.

However, uncertainty now surrounds whether the newly imposed 15% tariffs override the previously negotiated arrangement. If that is the case, EU exports that had benefited from zero tariffs could lose those exemptions. Additionally, there are concerns that the new levies may be applied on top of existing US ‘most-favoured-nation’ duties—an action that would contradict the terms of the EU-US agreement.

The revised tariff structure also erodes the EU’s competitive edge, as countries without formal trade deals are now subject to the same 15% rate. According to Global Trade Alert, the EU could face an average 0.8 percentage point increase in US tariffs, with Italy potentially seeing a rise of 1.7 percentage points, as reported by Reuters.

The Commission reiterated that EU goods must continue to receive the most competitive tariff treatment within the agreed ceiling. It warned that unpredictable trade measures risk destabilising markets and weakening global economic confidence.

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic has already held discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to address the issue and seek clarity on Washington’s intentions.