After intense rounds of political and technical conversations, USA and the European Union They closed the outstanding details of the pact reached at the end of July between the US President Donald Trump and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The agreement established a 15% maximum tariff to imports of European goodsincluding Automobile and Autopartes Exportsone of the most sensitive points of negotiation.
“We have crossed the goal. We publish a joint statement that is fair, balanced and mutually beneficial at the commercial level”Said the commissioner of commerce, Maros Sefcovicwho stressed that the agreement represented “A great impact at a time when the commercial scenario changed completely”
The automotive axis of the agreement
The most discussed aspect was the rate to be applied to European vehicles. Finally, it was defined that the Export of cars and automotive pieces to the US market will have a tax 15%.
However, this tariff will enter into force only after the EU formalizes a regulation for “eliminate tariffs on all American industrial products”Currently, Brussels maintains a rate of 10% About imported cars.
SEFCOVIC said the measure will allow “To the automobile industry continue to be competitive”The official recalled that the new scheme reduced the tribute from the 27.5% that previously applied USAafter announcing an increase of 25% earlier than the year on the automotive sector.
The agreement also reaches agriculture
The European bloc agreed to expand access to its market for American agricultural products that are not sensitive to their producers. In return, USA exempted greater charges to Aeronautical sectorincluding aircraft components, which will be taxed with a small tariff.
The exceptions also joined the cork and the generic medicationswhich will only pay the import rate corresponding to the most favored nation clause (MFN).
Despite the advances, the agreement did not include the expected exclusion of the Wines and the distilled drinksa repeated demand for France. “It was one of the interests of the EU”, Sefcovic acknowledged, although he admitted that“We have not been successful in this sector”He clarified, however, that USA He recognized the importance of the claim and included it in the items subject to future review.
The joint document, aligned with what was defined in July, set a 15% stop to community exports to the United States. For Sefcovic, it was the “Best possible agreement”, Since that percentage will not carry additional surcharges. Unlike the treaty with United Kingdomwhich established 10% more in some products, in this case 15% will be an absolute limit.
“It is the most favorable trade agreement that the US signed with any partner”Said the commissioner, highlighting that the scope covers key sectors such as Automotive, pharmacist and semiconductors.
Next steps between the European Union and the US
This Thursday, at 10 in the morning, the ambassadors of the EU received the details of the pact at an informative meeting convened by the European Commission. It should be noted that the declaration is not legally binding, but sets the commercial cooperation bases between the two regions.
The agreement received criticism in Europe, so some qualified as an excessive concession of Brussels, although the community executive defended the decision as the most beneficial result possible.
In recent weeks, both parties adjusted the most sensitive aspects: the limit of 15% In cars, partial exemption in steel and aluminumin addition to the discussion about agricultural products and alcoholic beverages that still generate friction.
Source: Ambito
