Bernd Lange, the Chairman of the EU Parliament’s International Trade Committee, has indicated that the continuation of the customs agreement between the EU and the USA beyond 2029 is unlikely. The SPD politician told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland that he strongly expects the 15% duties stemming from the Turnberry arrangement to conclude and be reduced by 2029.
Lange noted that the US has recognized its reliance on certain European goods, understanding that higher tariffs ultimately affect both American consumers and domestic industries. The recent announcement of 10% tariffs already suggested that the US government is taking these concerns into greater consideration.
Despite this shift, the US continues to apply 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU, even a year after the initial trade deal. Lange remains optimistic that exceptions will soon be agreed upon. He anticipates that by the end of the year, there will be waivers for specialized and high-quality steel. According to Lange, the US needs our steel because it cannot produce it domestically in sufficient quantities or with comparable quality for its automotive and mechanical engineering sectors.
He expressed strong confidence that if the EU were to enter negotiations with the US today, the resulting deal would look significantly better. He stated that the EU nations are now operating with greater cohesion compared to a year ago, a change prompted partly by threats made by Donald Trump regarding Greenland. Furthermore, he believes a greater degree of rationality has emerged in the United States, and the US government now more fully acknowledges the benefits of reciprocal economic relations.
