The European Union does not yet know when the joint declaration on tariffs with the United States should be finalised, nor when the White House will issue an executive order on import tariffs on European cars. This information was made public today by a European Commission spokesman, Reuters reported.
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, dismissing earlier threats of up to a 30 % tariff. However, this change has not yet been confirmed by a formal executive order from the US administration against automobiles and other sectors. Thus, there is legal uncertainty as to what will actually take effect.
While the basic 15% duty is already in place, exemptions do not yet apply to automobiles, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, wine or alcohol. These segments are still pending. It is automobiles, so far hit with a high tariff of 27.5 %, that need an executive order that would bring their duty down to 15 %.
The uncertainty over the executive order has direct implications for the automotive industry. Shipping companies such as Wallenius Wilhelmsen point out that trade flows from Europe to the US continue to suffer as replenishment logistics are still burdened by the old tariffs. Without a definitive document, it is unclear what the final costs and business strategies of manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo will look like.
Despite this uncertainty, the European Commission still believes in the validity of the Framework Agreement and considers it to be the "strong and best possible option" in the current situation. However, it explicitly notes that it cannot at this point give a timeframe for the finalisation of the Joint Declaration or for the issuance of the promised executive orders. At the same time, it has agreed to temporarily suspend its countermeasures against the US, specifically delaying the impact of the two retaliatory tariff packages that were due to come into force on 7 August by six months. This move is seen as a sign of goodwill within the trade agreement, but also as a measure taken in the knowledge that key provisions have not yet been implemented.
Both sides are now at a sensitive stage. On the one hand, there is a desire to maintain the positive momentum that led to the conclusion of the framework agreement at the end of July, but on the other hand, uncertainty persists due to the lack of concrete legal action, particularly in the automotive sector. For this industry, timing is crucial - production schedules, prices and logistics chains have to be set months in advance and uncertainty increases the risk of financial losses.
The situation is an example of how even a political agreement reached does not automatically mean an immediate change in practice. Meanwhile, the EU is waiting to see whether Washington will follow through on its promises and the automotive industry, along with other sectors, is waiting to see whether the promised tariff cuts will finally become a reality.
gnews.cz - GH
English 
Czech 
Spanish 
French 
Italian 
Russian 
Chinese 
German