United States Customs Duties: European Wines, Cars, and Pharmaceuticals Will Be Taxed at 15%
After months of tough negotiations, Brussels and Washington sealed a trade agreement at the end of July based on 15% tariffs on European products arriving in the United States.
European cars and pharmaceutical products will be taxed at 15% upon entry into the United States, according to a joint statement released Thursday by the EU and the Trump administration, which does not include any exemptions for wines and spirits. "Unfortunately, we were unable to include this sector" in the exemptions, European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said at a press conference while presenting the details of the trade agreement reached between the EU and the Trump administration at the end of July.
He added that discussions would continue and that "these doors were not closed forever." This exemption from the 15% customs duty for wines and spirits was strongly demanded, particularly in France and Italy.
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After months of fierce negotiations, Brussels and Washington sealed a trade agreement at the end of July based on 15% tariffs on European products arriving in the United States. This is far higher than the rate in effect before the American president's return to power—around 4.8%. But less than what the Republican billionaire threatened to impose on the Old Continent in the absence of an agreement.
“Predictability for our businesses and consumers”Regarding the timetable for implementing these 15% customs duties on cars, compared to 27.5% today, the European Commissioner expressed confidence that they would be applied retroactively to August 1, stating that he had received assurances from the Americans to this effect.
The joint text specifies that the 15% will come into effect when the EU introduces legislation to reduce its own customs duties. "We are working determinedly to launch the legislative process" as quickly as possible, Maros Sefcovic stressed. In a short message posted on X, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed a text that offers "predictability for our businesses and consumers." In addition to the tariffs imposed on European products, the EU has committed to $750 billion in energy purchases and $600 billion in additional investments in the United States.
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