EU governments want suspension powers in new US tariff deal

EU governments want suspension powers in new US tariff deal

Anabelle Colaco
02 Dec 2025, 09:50 GMT+

BRUSSELS, Belgium: European Union governments are pushing for extra protections in the bloc's new tariff deal with the United States, seeking safeguards and a review clause to prevent a potential surge of U.S. imports from harming European industry.

The agreement reached at the end of July would see the United States apply broad 15 percent import taxes on EU goods, while the European Union lifts many of its duties on U.S. products. The deal still requires approval from the European Parliament and the 27 member states.

Envoys from EU governments agreed on a unified position on Friday, backing the removal of duties on U.S. industrial goods and the creation of tariff-free quotas for selected agricultural and seafood products.

But they also want the EU to be able to fully or partially suspend the tariff cuts if increased U.S. shipments "cause or threaten to cause serious damage" to European producers. The European Commission would be required to examine safeguard measures at the request of member states.

Governments are also asking the Commission to track the market impact of the tariff changes and present a report by the end of 2028, shortly after the next U.S. presidential election.

The final legislation will be shaped through negotiations between EU governments and the European Parliament. Lawmakers, who will set their position in late January, are considering similar safeguard tools, as well as an 18-month sunset clause and a mechanism to respond if Washington diverges from the agreed terms.

Parliament proposals also urge the United States to roll back the 50 percent tariffs it imposed in August on 407 steel and aluminium derivative products, including wind turbines and motorcycles. If those duties remain in place, the EU would maintain its own tariffs on equivalent U.S. goods until the issue is resolved.

 

 

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