European Union expects to face 15% U.S. tariffs from Friday. But a key text still isn’t ready

A worker checks on new cars parked in a lot at the International Car Operators terminal in the Port of Zeebrugge, Belgium, Thursday, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

BRUSSELS — The European Union is working on the presumption that the United States will impose a 15 per cent tariff on most EU exports from Friday, even though the two sides have yet to complete a key document clarifying how the agreement will operate.

U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached a political agreement on Sunday that would see 15 per cent duties imposed on around two-thirds of EU produce, worth around 380 billion euros (US$434 billion).

As of Thursday, the EU and U.S. were still working on a joint statement that would lay out the terms of their understanding, Commission spokesman Olof Gill said. The document wouldn’t be legally binding.

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“It is the clear understanding of the European Union that the U.S. will implement the agreed across the board tariff ceiling of 15 per cent,” Gill said. The Commission negotiates trade terms on behalf of the the EU’s 27 member countries.

Carve outs were agreed for a range of “strategic” goods, including aircraft and aircraft parts, certain chemicals, some drug generics or natural resources.

Gill said that “it is also our clear understanding that the U.S. will implement the exemptions to the 15 per cent ceiling.” He added: “The U.S. has made these commitments. Now it’s up to the U.S. to implement them. The ball is in their court.”

European wine and spirits won’t escape the 15 per cent levy on Friday, but may do later as negotiations on additional exemptions to the new tariff regime continue, he said.

Chris Swonger, chief executive of the U.S. Distilled Spirits Council, said it was “extremely disappointing” that no agreement was reached. The U.S. is the EU’s biggest market for alcohol exports.

“It is critical that President Trump secure a permanent return to zero-for-zero tariffs on spirits with the European Union, which will provide much-needed certainty to 1.7 million workers who depend on a vibrant U.S. spirits industry,” Swonger said in a statement.

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Before last Sunday’s meeting, Trump had threatened the bloc with 30 per cent tariffs, which Von der Leyen said would effectively mean the end of trade between them. Over the last three months, the Commission drew up retaliatory measures worth tens of billions of euros to enact should the talks fail.

Those countermeasures are due to take effect on Aug. 7, but Gill said they would be frozen “if everything goes as expected.”

“If we have reached a deal, we don’t need the retaliatory tariffs,” he said.

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Lorne Cook, The Associated Press