While most EU imports, including autos, are subject to the 15% tariff, certain products are exempt, including all aircraft and aircraft parts, generic pharmaceuticals and their chemical precursors, and natural resources like cork.
| Photo Credit:
Dado Ruvic
The Trump administration issued a formal notice on Wednesday implementing the U.S. trade agreement with the European Union, confirming that autos and auto parts imports will be subject to a 15% duty from August 1 and listing exemptions for certain pharmaceutical compounds, all aircraft and aircraft parts, and certain natural resources.
In a Federal Register notice, the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said they have amended the U.S. tariff schedule to implement the Framework Agreement reached with the EU in late July that lowers President Donald Trump’s tariffs to 15% on the vast majority of imports from the EU, including autos.
The deal was subsequently modified to make the duty rate retroactive to August 1, but European automakers have been waiting for the formal notice.
The U.S. notice also specifies hundreds of products from the EU that are exempt from tariffs, including natural resources such as cork that are unavailable in the U.S., all aircraft and aircraft parts, and generic pharmaceuticals and their ingredients and chemical precursors.
Published on September 24, 2025
