EU to accept US forced labour tariffs if Trump respects 15% cap

Published Jul 20, 02:27 PM UTC

The European Commission has signaled it will accept new US tariffs on EU goods allegedly produced using forced labour, provided Washington honors its pledge to cap duties on EU exports at 15%. This comes as the Trump administration moves to reimpose 'reciprocal' duties after the US Supreme Court struck down earlier levies in February. A temporary 10% duty expires on Friday. The US Trade Representative proposed a 10% tariff under a Section 301 forced labour probe, expected to replace the stopgap measure. A senior EU official stressed Brussels rejects the forced labour allegations but prioritizes stability and predictability under the July 2025 Turnberry deal. The EU is also seeking tariff exemptions for products including cheese, pasta, olive oil, alcohol, and LNG machinery, citing aligned economic interests.