Economy & Trade
EU says new US tariffs match earlier commitments
The European Union said on Friday that a new wave of United States tariffs imposed by Washington was in line with earlier EU-US commitments, easing fears in Brussels that the measures could be retaliation for an EU fine on Google.
European Commission spokesman Olof Gill said the EU viewed the outcome positively because it matched the tariff commitments agreed in an EU-US joint statement.
The tariffs, which took effect on Friday, target 60 trading partners and replace an expiring global duty introduced by President Donald Trump earlier in the year. The new levies range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent and affect major economies including China, India and the European Union.
Gill said the new regime would set an all-inclusive 10 percent tax rate for the EU and restore additional customs duty exemptions for some European products, including cork and diamonds. He said aircraft, aircraft spare parts and generic medicines were also exempt.
Gill said the outcome would create a positive dynamic for transatlantic discussions on issues including strategic raw materials and artificial intelligence.
Washington announced the tariff measures hours after the EU imposed an 890 million euro, nearly $1 billion, fine on Google over anticompetitive practices in the digital sector. The fine had raised European concerns about possible US retaliation, including higher customs duties.
White House Trade Representative Jamieson Greer warned on Thursday that the Google fine created uncertainty in trade relations with the United States and posed a risk to transatlantic stability.
Update
The new US tariffs target 60 trading partners and range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent.
The EU said the new regime would create an all-inclusive 10 percent tax rate for the EU.
The EU said additional customs duty exemptions would return for some European products, including cork and diamonds.
Aircraft, spare parts and generic medicines were also described as exempt.
The European Commission spokesman said the outcome could create a positive dynamic for discussions on strategic raw materials, artificial intelligence and other topics.
The report links European concern to an 890 million euro fine imposed on Google for anticompetitive practices in the digital sector.
White House Trade Representative Jamieson Greer warned that the Google fine created uncertainty in trade relations with the United States.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 07:11:38 UTC.
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The European Union expressed relief over the new US tariff wave.
The source says there had been concern about possible retaliation after Brussels imposed a large fine on Google.
European Commission spokesman Olof Gill said the outcome was in line with US tariff commitments agreed under the EU-US Joint Statement.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 06:48:10 UTC.
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The European Union said the new US tariffs were in line with previous agreements.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 06:34:42 UTC.
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The new tariffs took effect Friday, replacing the expiring global duty.
The item gives more detail on which economies face 10 percent or 12.5 percent tariffs.
It reports exemptions for sector-specific tariff goods, some energy products, fertilizers and products covered by the US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact.
It adds reactions from Japan and Australia and analysis of the administration’s legal and trade strategy.
It reports separate US tariff actions involving Brazil and Canada.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 04:01:43 UTC.
Update
The United States said it would impose new tariffs on 60 trading partners over forced-labour concerns.
The tariffs are due to take effect Friday and range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent.
The measures replace an expiring global duty introduced earlier by President Donald Trump.
Economies with a forced-labour import ban or a commitment to introduce one face a 10 percent rate, while China, Japan, South Korea and others face 12.5 percent.
Some economies, including the EU, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland, receive relief linked to previous trade pacts with the United States.
Goods already subject to sector-specific tariffs, some energy products, fertilizers and goods covered by the US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact are exempt.
Washington is separately investigating 16 economies over excess industrial capacity, which could lead to additional duties.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 July 2026 at 02:07:58 UTC.
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The trade minister was named as Don Farrell.
Farrell said the tariffs were unjustified, inconsistent with Australia's free trade agreement with the United States, and should be removed.
The report said Australia was included on a list of trading partners facing levies ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent.
The source said the tariffs related to forced labour concerns.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 23:32:17 UTC.
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Australia's trade minister said new US tariffs were unjustified.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 23:27:18 UTC.
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The tariffs replace a 10 percent global import duty that lasts 150 days and expires Friday.
Economies with a forced labor import ban or a commitment to adopt one will face a 10 percent rate, while China, Japan, South Korea and many others were placed at 12.5 percent.
The EU, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Switzerland will receive some relief tied to earlier trade agreements with the United States.
Goods already covered by sector-specific tariffs, certain energy products and fertilizers, and goods covered by the US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact are not covered by the new duties.
Washington is separately investigating 16 economies over excess industrial capacity, which could lead to more duties.
The report adds comments from trade specialists Greta Peisch, Josh Lipsky and Ryan Majerus on legal durability, leverage and future tariff tools.
The report adds recent tariff context involving Brazil and Canada, including a 25 percent tariff on various Brazilian goods and an order for 50 percent tariffs on many Canadian products.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 22:40:20 UTC.
Update
The tariffs apply to 60 trading partners and take effect Friday.
Economies with forced labor prohibitions, including Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom, will face the 10 percent rate.
Other partners, including China and Japan, will face the 12.5 percent rate, according to a US official.
Goods already covered by sector-specific tariffs, such as steel and aluminum, will not be affected.
Goods entering under the US-Mexico-Canada free trade pact will be exempt.
Washington is separately investigating 16 economies over excess industrial capacity.
The report adds expert comments on legal durability, leverage and the use of Section 301 authority.
The report adds context on separate US tariffs on Brazilian and Canadian goods and the European Union's expectation that Washington will honor commitments under an EU-US statement.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 21:29:44 UTC.
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The United States said the new tariffs are linked to forced labor concerns.
The levies will range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent.
The tariffs are due to take effect on Friday.
Products already subject to sector-specific duties will not be affected.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 21:07:19 UTC.
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The United States will impose new tariffs on trading partners when the temporary 10 percent levy expires.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 21:00:46 UTC.
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The temporary 10 percent import levy was imposed after the Supreme Court struck down a host of Trump's tariffs in February and can last only 150 days, expiring Friday.
The Trump administration has prepared new duties targeting 60 economies over what it calls forced labor concerns.
The proposed duties would range from 10 percent to 12.5 percent and could affect goods from China, the European Union and India.
The proposed duties followed a months-long investigation and are described in the source as more durable than earlier measures.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Greer declined Wednesday to say whether the fresh duties would be finalized by Friday's deadline.
Trade lawyer Ryan Majerus said there could be a gap between the expiration of current duties and the imposition of new ones, which could briefly confuse businesses.
Majerus said Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 gives officials more flexibility than some expect and could allow changes after duties are imposed.
Separate Section 301 probes involving 16 economies over excess industrial capacity could provide another basis for tariff increases.
EU trade spokesman Olof Gill said the EU expects Washington to honor commitments in the EU-US Joint Statement, including a general 15 percent cap on EU goods.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 16:32:52 UTC.
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The White House said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is set to make a tariff announcement later Thursday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that an announcement would come very soon, later Thursday.
The source says officials have still not set out a timeline for the proposed new duties.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 July 2026 at 15:50:20 UTC.
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Trump announced a sector-specific tariff on imported generic drugs of 100 percent from August 2028, rising to 200 percent in 2029, while saying the tariff would be cut to zero from August 2026.
The planned forced-labor-related tariffs would be 10 percent for partners including Canada, the European Union, Mexico, Taiwan and the United Kingdom, and 12.5 percent for more than 40 other economies including China, India and Japan.
Washington announced a 25 percent duty on certain Brazilian goods last week, due to take effect Wednesday, with exemptions for products including beef, coffee, certain aircraft parts and some goods the United States does not produce.
A planned 50 percent tariff on many Canadian products is set to take effect in 30 days and would not exempt affected Canadian products entering under the USMCA.
Greer is set to travel to Mexico from Wednesday to Friday for discussions linked to a joint review of the USMCA.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was looking at all options and that he and Trump agreed to intensify discussions on a possible deal.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 23:31:15 UTC.
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US trade envoy Jamieson Greer told CNBC that he expected action soon on new duties, without giving a timeline.
The prepared tariffs target 60 trading partners over alleged failures to act against forced labor.
Analysts expect forced-labor-related tariffs of 10 percent to 12.5 percent to replace the temporary 10 percent global duty that expires Friday.
Greer said the new forced-labor action would cover the majority of US trade.
The item names partners that could face a 10 percent rate and says more than 40 major economies, including China, India and Japan, could face a 12.5 percent levy.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada was considering all options and that he and Trump agreed to intensify discussions in the coming weeks.
Greer is set to travel to Mexico from Wednesday to Friday for talks linked to a review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
The planned 50 percent Canada tariff would not exempt affected Canadian products entering the United States under the USMCA.
Trump said the Canada tariffs were unrelated to earlier threats over wildfire smoke.
The planned 25 percent tariff on Brazilian goods is due to take effect Wednesday, with exemptions for products including beef, coffee, some aircraft parts and some goods the United States does not produce.
The American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil warned that the Brazil measure would affect more than $11 billion in exports.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 17:57:17 UTC.
Update
The planned tariffs target 60 trading partners over alleged failures to act against forced labor.
Greer said the action would cover the vast majority of US trade but did not give a timeline.
Analysts expect new forced-labor-related tariffs of 10 percent to 12.5 percent to replace the temporary 10 percent global levy.
A 25 percent tariff on various Brazilian goods is due to take effect Wednesday, and a 50 percent tariff on many Canadian products is due to start on August 19.
Greer is set to travel to Mexico from Wednesday to Friday for USMCA-related talks.
Trade lawyer Dave Townsend said higher Canada tariffs may be aimed at encouraging or retaliating over the lack of a US-Canada trade agreement.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 15:06:10 UTC.
Update
The planned forced-labor tariffs would target 60 trading partners.
Analysts expect tariffs ranging from 10 percent to 12.5 percent to replace the temporary 10 percent global duty.
Greer said the new action would cover the vast majority of US trade.
The European Union, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Japan are among targeted economies.
The report adds that separate US investigations into excess manufacturing capacity are ongoing and could lead to further action.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 14:00:27 UTC.
Source
AFP news report published on .