Key facts
- The EU-US trade deal, established on July 27, 2025, is facing renewed pressure one year later.
- US President Donald Trump has threatened investigations into unfair trade practices and retaliation following an EU fine on Google.
- The EU has implemented safeguards that allow it to reimpose tariffs on US goods if the agreement's terms are violated.
- The European Commission can suspend the deal if the US fails to respect the 15 percent tariff ceiling or discriminates against EU economic operators.
One year after the EU-US trade deal was finalized, transatlantic trade relations are strained by fresh threats from US President Donald Trump. The deal, struck on July 27, 2025, between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump, is facing pressure following an €890 million fine imposed by the EU on US tech giant Google. In response, Trump posted on Truth Social, signaling that the US would launch investigations into unfair trade practices and retaliate against EU digital rules enforced on US firms. The US Trade Representative also stated the EU's fine created "uncertainty" for the deal. The EU, however, has implemented safeguards allowing it to reimpose tariffs on US goods if the US does not respect the agreed 15 percent tariff ceiling or if it undermines EU access to the US market. German MEP Bernd Lange noted that discussions with the US on EU digital regulations are ongoing, but the EU has grown accustomed to Trump's social media threats. Croatian MEP Željana Zovko expressed confidence that the European Commission would act on facts if the deal needed to be suspended. The EU executive was satisfied with new US tariffs set at 10 percent, even though they were imposed over alleged failures to ban imports made with forced labor, an accusation the EU rejects.