EU invokes Turnberry pact as Trump imposes new tariffs, threatens more

The European Commission has welcomed new US tariffs of 10-12% on EU exports, arguing they stay within the 15% cap agreed in last year's Turnberry Declaration. However, President Donald Trump has already threatened additional tariffs, accusing the EU of "stealing" through fines on US tech companies.

The Turnberry safeguard

The EU-US Joint Declaration signed in Turnberry, Scotland, capped US tariffs on European goods at 15%. After the US Supreme Court struck down Trump's earlier tariff mechanism, the administration invoked Section 122 to impose new levies on over 60 countries. The EU's chief spokesman Olof Gill said the bloc "values positively" that the new tariffs "are in line with the US tariff commitments agreed in the EU-US Joint Declaration" Source: elmundoes.

Ongoing threats

Hours after the tariff announcement, Trump posted on social media that the EU had imposed a €890 million fine on Google for antitrust abuse, calling Europeans "thieves" and promising to make the EU "return everything they have stolen" Source: abces. The Commission declined to comment directly, insisting that any future US tariffs must remain under the 15% ceiling Source: abces.

EU's requests and risks

Brussels is now pushing for further exemptions, notably a reduction of steel and aluminum tariffs from 50% to 15%, and inclusion of more products such as cheese, pasta, and olive oil Source: diariolibree. The EU has warned it could suspend the agreement if the steel tariffs persist beyond December 31, 2026 Source: diariolibree. Meanwhile, multiple US investigations under Section 301 and 232 could lead to fresh trade actions, testing the fragile truce Source: elmundoes.