Overview

• The United States will levy 30% duties on all goods imported from the EU beginning August 1, with any retaliatory tariffs added atop that rate
• President Trump argues the steep tariffs are needed to eliminate a long-standing US trade deficit attributed to EU tariff and non-tariff barriers
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warns the measures would disrupt key transatlantic supply chains and vows proportionate countermeasures if no deal is reached
• Brussels is racing to secure a scaled-back agreement with Washington by the August 1 deadline to avert wide-ranging economic damage
• EU member states remain split over strategy, with France pushing for strong reprisals and Germany and Italy backing pragmatic negotiations and targeted tariffs