The European Commission has called on the United States to strictly adhere to existing trade agreements and to refrain from imposing increased tariffs on European goods following a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Officials in Brussels emphasized that the White House must provide “full clarity” regarding its future actions. The Commission argues that the new tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump contradict the principles of transatlantic trade that had been previously agreed upon.
“The current situation does not promote fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade and investment… An agreement is an agreement,” the Commission stated. They insist that European exports should continue to benefit from preferential treatment without unexpected tariff increases.
“EU goods must continue to enjoy the most competitive regime, without tariff hikes beyond a clear and comprehensive ceiling previously agreed upon,” the Commission added.
The dispute has intensified after the U.S. Supreme Court annulled previous global tariffs imposed by Trump. In response, the President introduced new temporary tariffs set at 10%, which he quickly raised to 15%.
This decision jeopardizes agreements made last year, where the U.S. limited tariffs on the EU in exchange for Brussels refraining from imposing retaliatory tariffs on American products.
Trade tensions escalated when President Trump sought to bypass the Supreme Court’s ruling that invalidated his earlier global tariffs. He found legal mechanisms to implement new tariffs despite the court’s prohibition, subsequently announcing an increase from 10% to 15%.
These actions by the U.S. administration have raised significant concerns in global markets and have drawn criticism from key trading partners, including the European Union.
The European Commission is pressing the U.S. for compliance with trade agreements following new tariffs imposed by President Trump. The situation has escalated tensions between the two parties, jeopardizing previous trade arrangements.