The European Commission said the new U.S. duties on EU goods are consistent with commitments made under the EU-US Joint Statement and preserve key exemptions, despite the bloc's rejection of the forced labour allegations.
The European Commission gave a cautious welcome to new U.S. tariffs on EU goods, saying the outcome broadly matches commitments made under the EU-US Joint Statement agreed last year. Washington imposed new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the European Union and China, after saying they were not doing enough to prevent imports made with forced labor. Brussels said the EU is among a limited number of U.S. trading partners whose new tariffs do not stack on top of existing most favored nation customs duties. The measures also restore additional exemptions for EU goods including cork and diamonds, alongside earlier exemptions for aircraft and parts, generic medicines, and active ingredients. A European Commission spokesperson said the result provides positive momentum for talks on further tariff exemptions and deeper cooperation, while stressing that the EU expects Washington to keep abiding by the terms of the deal struck at U.S. President Donald Trump's Turnberry golf resort in Scotland last July. Under that agreement, the EU committed to remove import duties on U.S. industrial goods, while the United States imposed 15% tariffs on most EU products. The Commission said the arrangement is important for stability and predictability in transatlantic trade. The EU has also continued to reject U.S. allegations that it is failing to act against forced labour.