An agreement to implement the EU-US framework

The Presidency of the Council and the European Parliament have reached provisional agreement on two regulations aimed at implementing the tariff aspects of the EU-US Joint Declaration agreed on 21 August 2025. The aim is to advance the implementation of the commitments made by the European Union and to strengthen a stable and predictable transatlantic trade relationship.

The European institutions have agreed on the legislative text that will allow the application of the tariff reductions envisaged by the EU:

• The first regulation eliminates remaining customs duties on industrial goods from the United States and grants preferential access to certain non-sensitive fishery and agricultural products.
• The second regulation extends the suspension of duties for lobster imports, including processed lobster.

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What changes for the commercial relationship

The agreement is part of the compromise reached with the United States in the so-called Turnberry agreement, whereby the EU agrees to remove tariffs on U.S. industrial products and grant preferential access to certain agricultural and fishery products, while the United States maintains a 15% tariff on most European goods.

The measure seeks to avoid an increase in U.S. tariffs on EU products. The U.S. Administration had set July 4 as the deadline for Brussels to implement its commitments, with the threat of higher tariffs, including possible increases on European cars.

Safeguards and suspension mechanisms

The interim agreement incorporates mechanisms to protect the European Union’s economic interests. These include a specific safeguard that will allow the European Commission to examine significant increases in imports from the United States when they may cause, or threaten to cause, serious injury to European producers.

In addition, the Commission may suspend in whole or in part the application of the regulation if the United States fails to comply with the commitments in the Joint Statement, if it undermines its objectives or if it disrupts trade and investment relations with the EU. This suspension may also be triggered if there are sufficient indications that such situations may occur.

The text also includes a specific provision on steel and aluminum. The Commission may suspend concessions on these products if, before December 31, 2026, the United States maintains tariffs above 15% on steel and aluminum products imported from the EU.

Next steps

The provisional agreement still needs to be completed at a technical level and formally approved by the Council and the European Parliament. Once adopted, the regulations will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the day following their publication.

In practical terms, the step taken by Brussels reduces the immediate risk of a new tariff escalation before July 4. However, the agreement maintains instruments of control, suspension and review, reflecting the fact that the trade relationship between the EU and the United States continues to be marked by the need for stability, reciprocity and protection of European economic interests.