The European Union is seeking urgent clarification from Washington regarding its commitment to a bilateral trade agreement following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential tariff authority. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic revealed Tuesday that American counterparts have provided reassurances about honoring the existing trade deal, despite fresh tariff measures announced by President Donald Trump.
The development comes after Friday’s Supreme Court decision that Trump lacked authority to impose levies under a 1977 law. In response, the president announced new 10% tariffs on imported goods, with plans to increase them to 15% – creating potential conflicts with the EU-US agreement that established a 15% tariff ceiling for most European goods.
Sefcovic informed EU lawmakers that he maintained constant communication with U.S. officials who confirmed their commitment to the bilateral agreement. However, the commissioner acknowledged significant concerns about the newly announced tariffs, describing them as “difficult” for European interests during this “transitional period” as Washington determines how to implement the court’s ruling.
The trade chief also addressed ongoing tensions regarding Trump’s 50% duties on steel and aluminum imports, which were expanded in August to include hundreds of steel-containing products. Sefcovic suggested potential positive developments, noting that U.S. colleagues recognized this as “a big problem” and were actively reviewing the matter.
Meanwhile, the European Parliament has temporarily suspended approval of the EU-US deal pending clarification on the tariff situation. Sefcovic urged parliamentary approval by March, contingent on receiving clearer commitments from American authorities. EU member states emphasized that “a deal is a deal,” while expressing concerns that the new flat tariff approach could eliminate the comparative advantage European exporters gained through the bilateral agreement.
