The European Union is still unsure when a joint statement regarding tariffs with the United States will be finalized, nor when the White House will issue an executive order concerning import tariffs on European cars. This information was released today by a spokesperson for the European Commission, according to Reuters.

At the end of July 2025, the EU and the US reached a framework trade agreement that sets a basic import tariff of 15% on most European products, rejecting earlier threats of up to 30%. However, this change has not yet been formally confirmed by an executive order from the US presidential administration for the automotive sector and other industries. Therefore, there is legal uncertainty regarding what will actually take effect.

While the basic 15% tariff is already in place, exemptions have not yet been applied to cars, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, wine, or spirits. These sectors are still awaiting clarification. It is the automotive industry, which has been subject to a high tariff of 27.5%, that needs the executive order to reduce its tariffs to 15%.

The uncertainty surrounding the executive order has a direct impact on the automotive industry. Shipping companies, such as Wallenius Wilhelmsen, have warned that trade flows from Europe to the US are still being hampered because logistics are still burdened by the old tariffs. Without a definitive document, it is unclear what the final costs will be and what the business strategies of manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Volvo will be.

Despite this uncertainty, the European Commission still believes in the validity of the framework agreement and considers it to be "a strong and the best possible option" in the current situation. However, it explicitly states that it cannot provide a timeframe for the completion of the joint statement or the issuance of the promised executive orders. At the same time, it has temporarily suspended its countermeasures against the US, specifically postponing the implementation of two packages of retaliatory tariffs that were scheduled to take effect on August 7th, by six months. This move is seen as a gesture of goodwill within the trade agreement, but also as a measure taken with the awareness that key provisions have not yet been implemented.

Both sides are now in a delicate phase. On the one hand, there is an effort to maintain the positive momentum that led to the framework agreement at the end of July. On the other hand, there is still uncertainty caused by the lack of concrete legal steps, particularly in the automotive sector. For this industry, timing is crucial—production plans, prices, and logistics chains must be adjusted months in advance, and uncertainty increases the risk of financial losses.

This situation is an example of how even a political agreement reached may not automatically translate into immediate changes in practice. The EU is currently waiting to see whether Washington will follow through on its promised actions, and the automotive industry, along with other sectors, is waiting to see whether the promised tariff reductions will finally become a reality.

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