The Trump administration on Wednesday formally implemented its trade agreement with the European Union, confirming that a reduced 15% duty rate for EU automobiles and auto parts took effect August 1, ending weeks of uncertainty for European automakers.
The Commerce Department and the US Trade Representative’s office amended the tariff schedule to implement the framework agreement reached with the EU in July, according to a Federal Register notice published Wednesday. The deal lowers tariffs from the previous 25% rate and makes the reduction retroactive to August 1.
“For EU autos and auto parts, the tariff rate dropped to 15% from 25% effective August 1, easing anxiety in an industry that had been waiting for the long-delayed confirmation,” according to the Federal Register notice.
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European automakers had been waiting for weeks for formal US confirmation before making sourcing decisions. Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker, said last week that the tariff reduction was still subject to ongoing US-EU talks.
European automaker stocks rallied on the confirmation. Porsche shares climbed 2.2%, with BMW and Mercedes-Benz posting gains of 1.4% and 1.1%.
The trade agreement also lists hundreds of products exempt from Trump’s tariffs, including aircraft and aircraft parts, generic pharmaceuticals, and natural resources such as cork.
Under the broader framework, the EU committed to purchase $750 billion worth of US energy through 2028 and at least $40 billion worth of US AI chips for computing centers.
The 15% rate is a substantial reduction from Trump’s earlier threats to impose 30% tariffs on European automobiles, though it maintains significant duties on a sector that has operated with lower barriers for decades.
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