On 27 July 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald J. Trump agreed a deal on tariffs and trade.
This political agreement restores stability and predictability for EU consumers and businesses.
This important first step was followed by a Joint Statement between the two leaders that was published on 21 August 2025, confirming and building on what was agreed in July.
The transatlantic relationship: A key artery of global trade
The EU-US partnership is the most significant bilateral trade and investment relationship in the world.
What the deal achieves
The deal restores stability and predictability in EU-US trade and investment for citizens and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.
By securing continued access for EU exports to the important US market, the agreement helps to safeguard jobs and protect our key industries.
The negotiated outcome avoids harmful escalation. Moving forward, it creates a basis for continued dialogue and the development of the transatlantic relationship, including in areas of shared strategic interest. At the same time, it provides a framework from which we will work to further reduce tariffs and barriers.
A closer look at the agreement
- US tariff ceiling of 15% for most EU exports
A single, all-inclusive rate that applies across most sectors, including cars, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and lumber. The 15% is a clear ceiling, which means no stacking. Moreover, sectors which are already subject to Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariffs of 15% or above, will not be subject to additional tariffs.
- Zero or near-zero tariffs for a number of important product groups
This special MFN-tariff-only regime will apply to unavailable natural resources (such as cork), all aircraft and aircraft parts, generic pharmaceuticals and their ingredients and chemical precursors. Both sides agree to work ambitiously towards extending this regime to other product categories – a key deliverable for the EU.
- Protecting metals from unfair competition
A joint effort to protect the steel and aluminium sectors from unfair and distortive competition. This seeks to address global overcapacity, which threatens EU and US industry alike.
- Liberalising mutually beneficial trade from the US into the EU
To help EU importers and consumers save around €5 billion in duties each year, while core EU industrial and agricultural sensitivities remain protected.
- Reducing non-tariff barriers
Working together on car standards, reducing red tape in our trade and investment relationship, and recognising each other’s product checks in more industries.
- Cooperation on economic security
Strengthening supply chain resilience, tackling non-market practices, and deepening cooperation on investment screening and export controls.
- Access to critical energy and future-oriented supplies
The EU intends to procure US liquified natural gas, oil, and nuclear energy products, which will contribute to replacing Russian gas and oil on the EU market.
A platform for further progress
The EU and US will keep working together, to further reduce tariffs on more products, address non-tariff barriers, and cooperate on economic security.
This page was last reviewed on 29 May 2026