Agreement has been reached for the Turnberry trade agreement between the United States and the European Union. The announcement came from the Cypriot presidency, which confirmed the agreement on the tariff provisions adopted on 21 August 2025. President Donald Trump had set a time limit for its implementation (by 4 July), after which duties of 25% would be applied on imports of EU cars.
There are therefore only a few steps left to complete this phase. Trump will also be in Europe, in France to be precise, at the G7 leaders’ summit to be held in June. His presence was not assured, considering the growing tension over Iran and the accusation that the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy had not aligned themselves with the war effort. For this reason he threatened retaliation, which could emerge at the G7, even if the themes of this will be trade, artificial intelligence and the fight against crime.
Agreement reached on duties
Ursula von der Leyen on X writes that there is agreement on the reduction of customs duties for US industrial exports to the EU. The post reads:
An agreement is an agreement and the EU honors its commitments.
He adds that the next and more technical step is now in the hands of the co-legislators.
He closes with a hope:
Together we can ensure stable, predictable, balanced and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade.
Although it speaks of “shared benefit”, several voices in Europe considered the agreement unbalanced towards the United States. As he remembers Il Sole 24 Orein practice the two regulations introduce American duties on European products and reduce tariffs on European industrial products imported from the United States.
The ok of the 27 to the two regulations
Two regulations were approved. The first refers to the elimination of customs duties on American industrial products. Furthermore, preferential access to the market is guaranteed, thanks to tariff quotas and reduced duties, to non-sensitive fish and agricultural products.
The second text specifically concerns the extension of the suspension of duties for the import of lobster, including processed lobster.
The texts will remain in force until 2029, unless renewed.
What’s in the deal?
The most important result is having avoided US tariffs on cars and trucks of 25%. The agreement had already been discussed and signed last August and set duties of 15% on most European goods, but the EU had not yet kept its promise. Trump then returned to threaten an increase in tariffs if implementation was not completed by July 4th.
The EU Parliament met several times to try to reach the agreement, which finally arrived. Some compromises later, the final text gave the US until the end of 2027 to eliminate surtaxes above 15% on steel (currently 50%), rather than making it a precondition.
A strongly desired clause is that of the suspension of the commercial agreement in the event of:
- lack of commitment;
- interruption of trade;
- interruption of investments in the EU;
- discrimination against EU economic operators.
