EU Urges U.S. to End Tariffs on Metal-Based Products
The European Commission is urging the United States to remove tariffs on goods made from steel and aluminum, as Brussels pushes to advance outstanding parts of the EU-U.S. tariff agreement, according to EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.
Under the joint deal, both sides agreed to explore a system that shields their steel, aluminum, and derivative products from global overcapacity. The current 50% U.S. tariffs could be replaced by tariff-free or low-tariff quotas, allowing for a more balanced transatlantic trade relationship.
The European Commission, which manages trade policy for the 27 EU member states, said it has already fulfilled its part of the agreement. Its proposal would raise EU tariffs on steel to 50%, reduce existing quotas by half, and increase transparency about the origin of imported steel.
Sefcovic noted that the EU’s approach closely mirrors U.S. policies designed to protect its domestic steel industry.
“Once both sides protect their markets in a similar way, it’s time to address steel derivatives,” Sefcovic said at a press conference following an EU trade ministers’ meeting in Denmark.
“We should end the need to calculate how much steel is in a fridge or a dishwasher,” he added, referencing his recent letter to U.S. counterparts.
U.S. Tariffs Extend Beyond Steel and Aluminum
The U.S. tariffs not only target raw steel and aluminum but also extend to hundreds of derivative products made from those metals.
In August, Washington expanded its list to 407 product categories, imposing a 50% tariff on the metal content and an additional 15% universal rate on the non-metal components for EU imports.
These categories include wind turbines, bulldozers, railcars, motorcycles, exhaust systems, refrigerators, freezers, and dryers — a broad range that has raised concerns across the European manufacturing sector.
The EU hopes that continued dialogue with Washington will pave the way for lower tariffs and fairer trade conditions, easing pressure on both sides of the Atlantic.
