The European Commission on Tuesday called on Washington to promptly revert to the tariff levels set out in last year’s EU-US trade agreement, saying it would be preferable for the principal terms to be restored before the deal’s one-year anniversary at the end of July.
Maros Sefcovic, the Commission vice president responsible for external relations, held a 90-minute meeting in Paris with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Among the EU’s chief worries is U.S. President Donald Trump’s stated intention to increase tariffs on European cars and trucks to 25%.
According to the Commission, Sefcovic briefed Greer on the expected timetable for the EU to remove duties on imported U.S. industrial goods, a commitment the two sides made as part of last year’s agreement. The EU indicated that this removal is unlikely to be completed before June.
The Commission said Sefcovic pressed for a swift return to the agreed Turnberry terms - specifically a 15% all-inclusive tariff rate, with the carve-outs agreed for the EU. That request was made in the context of U.S. statements that higher car tariffs are justified by EU noncompliance with the deal’s terms.
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the previous global tariff structure in February. Following that decision, Washington substituted a uniform 10% surcharge on top of existing duties. The Commission noted that, in some instances, EU goods now face a U.S. tariff above 15% as a result of these changes.
Officials from both sides agreed to step up engagement on outstanding issues, the Commission added, without detailing further steps or a precise timetable beyond the earlier comment about the EU’s own implementation timing.
Context and immediate focus
The talks in Paris concentrated on re-establishing the tariff levels envisioned in the prior agreement and clarifying when agreed reciprocal duty removals will take effect. The EU emphasised the value of getting the main elements back in place ahead of the end of July milestone.
What remains unresolved
Key unresolved items flagged by Brussels include the timing of the EU’s abolition of duties on U.S. industrial imports and the U.S. decision to apply a 10% surcharge following the Supreme Court ruling, which in some cases results in U.S. tariffs above the 15% Turnberry benchmark.