EU to begin implementing tariff deal with the US from tomorrow

The European Union will begin implementing its tariff deal with the United States from tomorrow, the European Commission said, putting the bloc's side of the accord into effect after months of delay. The move follows a July 4 deadline set by President Donald Trump and comes after the texts were published in the EU's official journal. The agreement was sealed last July between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

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Under the deal, the EU will apply 15% levies on most of its exports to the United States, while US industrial goods entering the 27-member bloc will face zero tariffs. The arrangement also includes preferential access for some seafood and farm products, according to the published terms. EU spokesman Olof Gill said the bloc was following through on its commitments and looked forward to continuing work with Washington in the context of the agreement.

The implementation had been delayed for months, with officials citing a series of political and legal complications. Among them were Trump's threats to Greenland and a US Supreme Court ruling that struck down many of his tariffs, both of which complicated the timing of the European side's approval. EU member states gave final approval last week, after the European Parliament backed the measures earlier this month.

Lawmakers added safeguards to the pact before it was cleared. These include a power for the European Commission to suspend the agreement if the United States fails to meet its commitments or acts in a way that disrupts trade and investment. They also inserted an expiry date of the end of 2029 unless the deal is renewed, giving the arrangement a built-in review point.

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The deal matters because it sets the framework for a major transatlantic trade relationship at a time of continuing political pressure over tariffs and digital taxes. Trump last year threatened a 100% tariff on European countries that impose a digital services tax, underlining how quickly trade disputes can widen beyond goods alone. The EU's decision to proceed now signals that both sides are moving to formalise the terms they negotiated last year, even as the wider relationship remains sensitive.

What remains unclear is how quickly the new terms will affect trade flows and whether either side will seek further changes before the 2029 expiry date. The Commission has said it is ready to continue working with the United States under the agreement, but the safeguards leave open the possibility of suspension if commitments are not met. The next point to watch is whether the implementation proceeds smoothly or becomes part of a broader dispute over tariffs, industrial policy and digital regulation.

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