A “zero for zero” tariff agreement with the United States is unlikely despite EU efforts to reach a comprehensive deal, said Bernd Lange, the chair of the European Parliament's committee on international trade. Lange emphasized the need for a concrete, detailed agreement rather than vague commitments.
Some recently imposed US tariffs against imports from the European Union are likely to stay in place, Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's international trade committee said at an event* today. While the EU has strongly favored the completion of a fair agreement that completely eliminates tariffs on industrial goods, it's becoming evident that this outcome is unlikely because of US budgetary needs, he said.
“I’m sure that at the end of the day, the United States will not withdraw all tariffs,” Lange said. “This was one of the clear messages I got in my recent visit to Washington,” which happened in late May. The two sides have until July 9 to reach a deal.
He also expressed concern that ongoing uncertainty in negotiations is creating trade tensions that are causing economic and market instability.
“Nobody knows what will happen in the United States in the next weeks and months,” Lange highlighted. “We want to have a final deal because we need stability for investment.”
While optimism for a deal arose when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on May 26 that the EU and US will prioritize and “fast track” efforts to finalize a deal, as the deadline approaches, that optimism seems to be fading.
“Last week I was quite optimistic,” said Lange. “At the moment I would say it's 50/50, it's really depending on the concrete stage of negotiations.”
If the two parties cannot complete negotiations by July 9, the existing tariffs will remain, and other tariff hikes will likely ensue.
Prior to US tariffs, EU exports were subject to US import tariffs valued at about 7 billion euros ($8.1 billion) annually. With the new trade measures in place, that figure is now rising to around 100 billion euros, according to Lange.
“[The US] need the tariffs as an income for the budget,” Lange said.
In light of the recent US-UK trade agreement, Lange made it clear that the EU won’t accept a similar arrangement, citing concerns over fairness and alignment with World Trade Organization rules.
“Regarding the deal between the United States and UK, it is not WTO compatible,” Lange noted. “It is discriminatory, so for me, it’s not acceptable.”
*“From US tariffs to a competitive China: Europe’s trade strategy of tomorrow,” MLex, Brussels, June 25, 2025.
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