While the EU meets in Washington to talk about the situation in Ukraine, the United States worked on another front, the economic one, which is marking the Trump administration. The duties season returns to hit forcefully, and this time the impact is felt directly on the numbers and on the supply chains.
The president decided to expand the ray of rates on steel and aluminum, doubled the imposition to 50% and extending it to over 400 categories of products. Not only raw materials, therefore, but also artifacts, industrial machinery, car spare parts, furniture and commonly used goods.
A choice that makes the dialogue between the United States and Europe even more difficult, already marked by the drop in exports and by a commercial surplus that fits quickly. Brussels thus finds himself having to run on two tracks: on the one hand limit the economic damage, on the other to try to close a political agreement with Washington who, for now, remains stopped at the pole.
Over 400 new categories affected by the US rates
From 18 August 2025 Washington has expanded the ray of rates, applying 50% duties not only to raw steel and aluminum but also to hundreds of products that contain them. In total there are 407 new categories, ranging from children to children to cooking utensils, from car parts to industrial machinery, up to turbines, cranes, bulldozers and even rail materials. The list developed by the Department of Commerce is almost entirely composed of ten -digit technical codes, and it is difficult for companies to immediately understand which articles are involved.
The measure aims to close every possible escapade, bringing the value of imports affected to about 320 billion dollars, on the basis of the customs data 2024. But the operation, if on the one hand strengthens the American metal industry, on the other hand risks having a chain effect on the whole economy: local companies are already increasing prices and fear (which will probably happen) is that the new feeding rates and further inflation rates and complications in global chains.
The sectors most affected by duties
The sectors already in the sights of the American rates are paying most of all. Machinery and vehicles saw the surplus drop from 21.3 to 16.4 billion. The chemical industry slipped from 19.1 to 14.3 billion, while the item “other artifacts” went from the most to the less sign, transforming an asset of 1.9 billion into a 1.4 red.
And the uncertainty to curb the supply chains is enough: in June, compared to May, non -EU exports dropped by 2.3% and imports increased by 2.9%, making the monthly surplus collapse from 12.7 to 1.8 billion.
Ue-USA agreement still stopped
The political framework remains tangled. The agreement reached at the end of July by Ursula von der Leyen and Donald Trump has not yet been put black on white.
On paper it was expected to lower the duties on cars from 27.5% to 15%, but without a signature it remains a dead letter. According to the Financial Times, the blockage was born from differences on the so -called “non -tariff barriers”. Washington wants more margins to intervene on European digital rules, in particular on the Digital Services Act, considered too rigid by the American big techs. Brussels, however, does not intend to get back on that ground.
Lindt’s moves between Europe and the United States
Not only steel and aluminum, the confectionery sector also tries to adapt to the new commercial scenario. Second BloombergLindt would also be thinking of a double move to get around the duties: bring the production of the famous golden bunnies from Europe to the United States, so as to protect the North American market, and at the same time report some lines today in the USA in European establishments to dodge Canadian retaliation duties.
A mirror strategy that would also concern seasonal figures such as chocolate Santa Claus and which, if confirmed, would have an estimated value of about $ 10 million. For now there are no official communications from the company, but rumors continue to bounce in industrial environments.
Then there is the agri -food chapter, which remains to be written. The rates on wine and distilled are still suspended, a heavy unknown for the exports of the Mediterranean countries.
