Tariffs EU divided over EU-US customs agreement
100 days after the agreement in principle on a customs agreement between the EU and US President Donald Trump, the EU is divided over the agreement.
03.11.2025, 06:41
SDA
While the EU Commission is in favor of the deal it negotiated, there is some strong criticism in the European Parliament and among the EU member states. The Commission states: "The agreement reached with the USA has stabilized transatlantic trade and secured the competitive position of EU exporters in the important US market," a spokesperson for the authority said. It offers a platform for new "win-win opportunities".
The European Parliament and the member states are currently discussing the Commission's proposals on how the EU-US deal can be implemented in a legally binding manner.
Criticism from Parliament and EU member states
Criticism has come from the EU Parliament, among others. "I am not really satisfied with the proposal for several reasons," emphasized Bernd Lange (SPD), the Parliament's chief negotiator, recently. Among other things, the USA had increased tariffs again following the agreement. What was needed, he said, was a standstill agreement in which it was stipulated that no new tariffs would be imposed or other measures taken.
Behind closed doors, however, there is also criticism among the EU states. One EU diplomat told the German Press Agency: "The agreement is not ideal." For a few months, however, it was "tolerable for now". American consumers in particular would feel the impact. How the exchange rates develop is also important.
The current strength of the euro compared to the US dollar is having an impact on exports to the USA in addition to the tariffs. A strong euro makes European products more expensive for US buyers and therefore impairs Europe's competitiveness on the US market.
