European Union authorities anticipate the United States will substantially reduce tariffs on manufactured goods containing steel and aluminum within coming weeks, according to a Bloomberg News report citing informed sources. This potential policy shift would mark a significant de-escalation in transatlantic trade tensions that have persisted since the previous administration’s imposition of protective metal tariffs.
The reported arrangement, however, maintains existing levies on commodity-grade forms of both metals, indicating a targeted approach rather than comprehensive tariff elimination. This development emerges amid heightened uncertainty in broader trade negotiations following a recent US Supreme Court decision that constrained presidential authority to implement sweeping emergency tariffs.
The judicial ruling, which limited the administration’s capacity to invoke national emergency powers for imposing reciprocal tariffs, has complicated prospects for a comprehensive US-EU trade agreement. While EU officials express optimism about the potential tariff modifications, Reuters has noted its inability to independently verify the Bloomberg report’s claims.
This anticipated policy adjustment represents a potential breakthrough in one of the most persistent trade disputes between the transatlantic partners. The partial nature of the expected tariff relief suggests a compromise solution that addresses specific industry concerns while maintaining protective measures for raw metal production.