‘A deal is a deal’

The European Commission has called on the US to uphold the terms of an EU-US trade agreement reached last year, following the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Trump’s global tariffs and his subsequent implementation of new levies across the board.

The Commission, representing the 27 EU member states in trade negotiations, emphasized the need for “full clarity” from Washington regarding its actions in response to the court ruling.

After the Supreme Court invalidated Trump’s global tariffs, the President announced temporary across-the-board tariffs of 10%, which were later increased to 15%.

“The current situation does not promote ‘fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial’ transatlantic trade and investment, as agreed upon by both parties in last year’s trade agreement,” the Commission stated. “A deal is a deal.”

These remarks represent a stronger stance compared to the Commission’s initial response on Friday, which mentioned analyzing the Supreme Court decision and maintaining communication with the Trump administration.

The trade deal from last year established a 15% US tariff rate for most EU goods, with exceptions for certain products covered by sectoral tariffs like steel. It also permitted zero tariffs on specific items such as aircraft and spare parts. The EU committed to eliminating import duties on various US goods and refrained from retaliatory measures involving higher levies.

“EU products should maintain their competitive treatment, with no tariff increases beyond the agreed ceiling,” the EU executive affirmed, highlighting the disruptive nature of unpredictable tariffs and their negative impact on global market confidence.

The EU Trade Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, engaged in discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to address the issue on Saturday.