The EU will implement its tariff deal struck last year with the United States from Wednesday, the European Commission said, meeting a July 4 deadline set by President Donald Trump.
Sealed between Trump and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen in July 2025, the deal sets levies of 15 percent on most EU exports to the United States, and zero tariffs for US industrial goods coming into the 27-nation bloc.
“Promise made, promise delivered,” EU spokesman Olof Gill told reporters Tuesday as texts enacting the bloc’s side of the accord were published in its official journal — meaning they will take effect the following day.
“The European Union always follows through on its commitments that we make in trade agreements,” Gill added, saying the EU looked “forward to continuing the work with the US in the context” of the deal.
The EU had agreed with Washington to remove duties on US industrial goods and introduce preferential access for certain seafood and farm products.
But Trump’s threats to Greenland and a US Supreme Court decision striking down many of his tariffs fueled months of delay in implementing the European side of the accord.
EU states gave it their final approval last week, following parliament’s approval earlier this month. (AFP)
