United States presses EU to cut non‑tariff barriers

The United States has asked the European Union for a public, detailed commitment to reduce or eliminate a series of EU regulations that Washington says hinder trans‑Atlantic trade. The focus is on “non‑tariff barriers” such as European standards on automobile safety, food and agricultural products.

The request comes roughly a year after the Turnberry trade agreement was signed in August 2025, which lowered tariffs – the EU cut duties on industrial goods and some agricultural products, while the United States reduced tariffs on many European items, including cars, to 15 %. The U.S. trade team notes an EU goods‑trade deficit of about €198 billion, whereas the EU points to a U.S. services surplus of €178 billion.

The European Commission has signaled little appetite for a new formal pledge, preferring to mark the anniversary by highlighting progress already made. Nonetheless, it has forwarded to the European Parliament a list of possible tariff cuts covering roughly €115 billion of EU exports to the United States – notably wine, alcoholic beverages, certain cheeses and machinery. Washington hopes the commitments will be announced at the one‑year anniversary of the deal.