Brussels has taken a firm public stance against increases in US import duties following a dramatic decision by the European Commission insisting that the United States must adhere to the terms of a transatlantic trade deal agreed in summer 2025.
The head of European trade policy said the bloc will accept “no increases in tariffs beyond the clear and all-inclusive ceiling previously agreed”, underscoring the view in Brussels that “a deal is a deal” after an unexpected legal twist in Washington.
The dispute was triggered when the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that much of the tariff regime built by President Donald Trump was unconstitutional, finding that the statute previously used to impose broad import tariffs did not provide the legal authority claimed by the administration.
In response, Trump quickly introduced temporary duties on a wide range of imported goods, first at 10% and then increasing them to 15%, a move that has unsettled European markets and renewed questions over the legality and predictability of the tariff policy.
Brussels was incisive in its criticism, saying the current situation is not conducive to delivering “fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial” transatlantic trade and investment, and stressing that European products should maintain “the most competitive treatment” without unexpected tariff hikes.
The EU’s trade chief, Maroš Šefčovič, has already engaged in high-level talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to seek clarity on Washington’s next steps.
The backdrop to the Commission’s statement is a July 2025 pact between Brussels and Washington that set a 15% tariff ceiling on most EU exports to the US, alongside a reciprocal removal of duties on many American products and a suspension of threats to retaliate with higher levies.
That framework was designed to avert a full-blown trade dispute and provide predictability for exporters on both sides of the Atlantic.
US officials have sought to defuse concerns by stressing that the country does not intend to walk away from its tariff commitments despite the legal setback. In a CBS interview, Greer reiterated that existing deals with Europe and other partners are expected to endure, noting that discussions continue to clarify the impact of the Supreme Court ruling.
“The deals were not premised on whether or not the emergency tariff litigation would rise or fall. I haven’t heard anyone yet come to me and say the deal’s off. They want to see how this plays out,” Greer stated.
