Trump’s duties are reality: from 1 August 2025 the 15% rates imposed by the US to the EU become effective, even if the real entry into force is postponed to 7 August. The EU still has a week to treat.
The duties are the result of the commercial agreement squeezed on Sunday 27 July in Turnberry, Scotland, from Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump.
The Trump duties at 15% is underway
The executive order was signed on the night of July 31st. The duties range from 10% to 41%, depending on the countries.
But the expectation for another piece of the puzzle rises: the joint declaration between united Europe and the USA. In fact, the duties at 15%are the result of a verbal understanding. This leaves the possibility of changes or delays in the application, especially on some key sectors for the Italian economy, such as steel, pharmaceutical, wine and alcohol. In short, the negotiations to obtain further exemptions continue, as Olof Gill, spokesman for the European Commission, said. But there is also the opposite risk, that is, that the rates can increase in the coming weeks if a wider agreement will not be reached.
The weight of the use of use on Italy
As part of the EU, Italy is the fourth commercial partner of the United States: we export overseas over 65 billion euros of goods every year. Among the most exposed sectors they include:
- automotive and components with about 9 billion euros of products;
- agri -food and wine with 2 billion euros of exports;
- pharmaceutical, sector exempted for a week, waiting for the closure of the investigation of the American trade department;
- Steel and metals, on which the 50% rates introduced by Trump remain in force.
According to Confartigianato, the new duties could weigh for over 3 billion euros of additional costs per year on Italian companies, especially SMEs with smaller profit margins than large multinational groups.
“America First”, Trump’s strategy
From a political point of view, the executive order strengthens the president’s protectionist line, which had already launched a “duties war” in his first term. Now Trump aims to consolidate the support of the American industrial base, promising to protect internal jobs and reduce commercial deficit.
The White House claims a record of rates from duties: 87 billion dollars in the first 6 months of 2025, more than collected throughout 2024. But part of the economists warns: the rates, in addition to hitting commercial partners, also weigh on US consumers, increasing prices and feeding inflation.
The countries most damaged by duties
The next crucial appointment is set for August 7: the Trump plan requires a 30% rate to countries that have not signed a commercial agreement within the time, introducing concessions for those who did it. For countries on the “vouchers” list, the duties remain confirmed at 15%. For the countries with which the United States maintain a positive commercial balance, the duty is 10%.
Among the countries with the highest duties are Syria (41%), Laos (40%), Burma (40%) and Switzerland (39%). In some cases, the duties were not justified by reasons related to commercial deficit. Then there is the case of Canada, with 35%duties: according to Trump, the Canadian cousins did not “collaborate to stem the constant flow of Fenanyl and other illegal drugs”, and therefore have been punished. Then there is the 40% duty in Brazil, as punishment for the process in progress to the former president Jair Bolsonaro, ally and friend of Trump. Mexico enjoys a 90 -day extension.
China has seen its duties reduce from 145% to 30%. The Chinese, for their part, lowered the duties to the USA from 125% to 10%. We work to reach a definitive agreement on August 12th.
