‘A deal is a deal’: EU demands US to honour its trade commitments amid tariff uncertainty

BRUSSELS: The European Union has demanded that Washington honour its trade commitment and provide “full clarity” after the US President announced 15 per cent global tariffs following the Supreme Court’s ruling to invalidate his previous tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

In a statement, the EU requested clarity on the Trump administration’s intentions, stating that the current situation, referring to 15 per cent tariffs, is not “conducive to delivering ‘fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial’ transatlantic trade and investment, as agreed to by both sides and spelt out in the EU-US Joint Statement of August 2025”.

“A deal is a deal. As the United States’ largest trading partner, the EU expects the US to honour its commitments set out in the Joint Statement – just as the EU stands by its commitments,” the EU said in a statement. The EU affirmed that it remains committed to protecting its interests and ensuring that its companies and exporters have fair treatment, predictability, and legal certainty.

The EU demanded that tariffs shouldn’t be increased beyond the previously agreed deal, which was set at 15 per cent for most EU goods and zero tariffs on some products such as aircraft and spare parts. “EU products must continue to benefit from the most competitive treatment, with no increases in tariffs beyond the clear and all-inclusive ceiling previously agreed. Tariffs are taxes, driving up costs for both consumers and businesses, as recent studies clearly confirm,” they said.

The EU, further, expressed concern over unpredictable tariffs, which they believed “are inherently disruptive, undermining confidence and stability across global markets and creating further uncertainty across international supply chains”.

“The Commission is in close and continuous contact with the US Administration. On Saturday, 21 February, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic spoke with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick”, the EU said.

This comes after the US president announced temporary, across-the-board tariffs of 10%, which he then raised to 15 per cent a day later. Trump’s decision to impose 15 per cent tariffs came after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the administration exceeded its authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs, affirming that the power to levy taxes resides primarily with Congress. (ANI)