Key facts
- Brussels has submitted a list of EU goods to the US for exemption from 15% tariffs.
- The list includes iconic products such as Roquefort cheese, olive oil, and wine.
- The total value of EU exports on the exemption list is approximately €150 billion.
- The tariffs are part of the Turnberry trade agreement reached in Scotland in 2025.
- The EU is also seeking discussions on steel and aluminium tariffs, which are currently at 50%.
Brussels is pressing Washington to exempt approximately €150 billion worth of European Union goods from the 15% tariffs established under the Turnberry trade agreement, reached in Scotland in 2025. The European Commission has provided the US with a list of products, including well-known items like Roquefort cheese, olive oil, and various wines, spirits, and beers, as well as medical devices and electrical equipment.
EU trade official Matthias Jørgensen informed Members of the European Parliament that the selected products are considered 'economically meaningful' for the EU or have 'limited domestic availability in the US.' The Turnberry deal, brokered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump, involved the EU accepting the 15% US tariffs on its exports while simultaneously removing its own tariffs on US industrial goods. Negotiations for exemptions were part of the initial agreement, but the US had previously delayed talks until the EU reduced its tariffs.
With the EU having removed its duties on July 1, following legislative approval, the Commission is now hopeful of securing these carve-outs. A joint statement from Brussels and Washington indicated that both sides would 'consider' applying pre-2025 tariff levels, which averaged around 3.3%, to products deemed important for their economies. Individual EU member states, particularly France, Italy, and Spain, have been actively lobbying the Commission to secure favorable tariff treatment for their key exports, especially wine.
Furthermore, the EU aims to initiate discussions regarding steel and aluminium, which currently face a 50% US tariff. Jørgensen anticipates these talks will be 'challenging,' citing the US's stated national security rationale for protecting its domestic production. Despite the Turnberry agreement, Jørgensen warned that EU-US trade relations are likely to remain 'at high risk of volatility,' referencing President Trump's past threats regarding digital taxes imposed by European countries on US tech companies.