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EU-US Tariff Deal: What Companies Need to Prepare for Starting Today

The EU and US have reached a historic tariff agreement, officially adopted in July and entering into force on August 1, 2025. With reduced duties and new market commitments, companies across sectors must act fast to stay competitive and compliant.

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EU-US Tariff Deal: What Companies Need to Prepare for Starting Today

A Strategic Shift in Transatlantic Trade

The recent EU-US tariff deal represents more than just a reduction in duties. It signals a fundamental shift in trade, regulation, and strategic alliances. As political and economic forces realign, businesses across Europe must rethink their positioning and prepare for a new global trade landscape.

Key Implications

of the EU-US Tariff Deal

The agreement, effective August 1, 2025, brings immediate advantages for European exporters but also introduces long-term obligations and strategic consequences.

Tariffs on key EU exports to the US have been significantly reduced to 15%, avoiding the previously threatened levels of 30% to 50%. In selected strategic sectors, including aerospace, semiconductors, and green technologies, the deal establishes zero-tariff access under the “zero-for-zero” principle.

At the same time, the EU has committed to major economic engagement with the US market. This includes $750 billion in energy purchases, $600 billion in strategic investments, and increased spending on defense, infrastructure, and the integration of transatlantic supply chains.

This deal will influence procurement strategies, pricing models, compliance requirements, and cross-border investments.

Every company should now assess its exposure, risks, and opportunities. It must act with clarity and speed.

What CPOs Need to Know Now

With a standardised 15% tariff now replacing previously threatened rates of up to 30%, procurement leaders must urgently assess the impact across categories, from raw materials to high-tech components. Our latest article breaks down what the deal means for supply chain strategy, how to navigate cost exposure, and which opportunities may emerge under the new “zero-for-zero” trade provisions. Whether you're a CPO, supply chain head, or commercial lead, this is essential reading.

Read what to do next

What the Deal Means for Your Industry

Explore the industry-specific implications:

Aerospace: Zero Tariffs, Full Thrust Ahead

The EU-US “zero-for-zero” agreement eliminates tariffs on aircraft, engines, and components, reigniting cross-border cooperation and unlocking new potential for OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and joint ventures across the transatlantic aerospace ecosystem.

Automotive: Navigating the 15% Reality

The new EU-US trade deal brings a reduced, but still significant, 15% tariff on European car exports. For premium OEMs and their suppliers, this signals a strategic turning point. Rethinking production, pricing, and global positioning is now essential.

Defence: Trade Simplified, Readiness Accelerated

The EU–US tariff agreement reduces friction for transatlantic defence partnerships. With streamlined trade, shared priorities, and growing European demand for US systems, industrial cooperation just became faster, easier and strategically vital.

Financial Services: Strategic Capital in Motion

The EU-US trade deal is more than a diplomatic headline. It’s a catalyst for financial strategy. In this piece, I explore what the agreement means for capital flows, structured finance, risk management, and ESG compliance across borders. Financial services may not be explicitly tariffed, but they are deeply impacted. Now is the moment for banks, insurers, and asset managers to realign.

Industrial Goods: Rethinking Cost and Capacity Across Borders

The new 15% US tariff on EU industrial goods is less than feared, but far from harmless. For Germany’s machinery exporters and their Eastern European suppliers, this deal signals a shift toward local production, strategic reclassification, and global supply chain recalibration.

Private Equity: Capital in Motion, Strategy in Demand

The EU-US trade agreement injects over $600 billion in transatlantic investment momentum. For private equity, this opens new M&A opportunities, sharpens competitive dynamics, and demands bold industrial alignment before the window closes.

Rail: Predictability at a Price

A new chapter for European rail and a wake-up call for strategic adaptation. The recent EU-US trade agreement brings long-awaited tariff stability but also sharpens the pressure on Europe’s rail industry to rethink certification, localisation, and transatlantic go-to-market models.

Navigating transatlantic trade turbulences: how your data helps you navigate the newest US-EU tariffs

This article reveals why traditional approaches no longer suffice in a world of shifting tariffs and complex regulations. Discover how real-time data, scenario and integrated planning, and AI-driven insights helping companies navigate the latest US-EU tariff deal and the broader global trade landscape.