EU rejects any US tariff hike after Supreme Court ruling

The European Commission has called on the United States to fully respect the terms of last year’s EU-US trade agreement, following a US Supreme Court decision that struck down key elements of President Donald Trump’s global tariff policy and his subsequent announcement of new duties.

In a statement on Sunday, the Commission said Washington must provide “full clarity” on how it intends to proceed after the ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States invalidated the legal basis for sweeping tariffs introduced earlier.

After the court’s decision on Friday, Trump unveiled temporary tariffs of 10 percent on most imports, later raising the rate to 15 percent. The move has reignited concerns over transatlantic trade stability.

The European Commission, which negotiates trade policy on behalf of the bloc’s 27 member states, stressed that the current developments are not aligned with the commitment to “fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial” trade outlined in last year’s joint agreement. “A deal is a deal,” the Commission said, underscoring that previously agreed terms must be upheld.

The tone marked a shift from the Commission’s initial reaction on Friday, when it said only that it was reviewing the court’s ruling and maintaining contact with US authorities.

Under the trade deal concluded last year, most EU goods are subject to a 15 percent US tariff ceiling, with certain sectors such as steel covered by separate measures. Some products, including aircraft and related parts, benefit from zero tariffs. In return, the EU removed duties on a range of US goods and stepped back from plans to impose retaliatory tariffs.

The Commission reiterated that EU products must continue to receive the most competitive treatment, without any tariff increases beyond the agreed ceiling. It warned that unpredictable tariff policies disrupt trade flows and weaken confidence in global markets.

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic discussed the issue on Saturday with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as both sides seek to manage the fallout from the court’s ruling and the latest US tariff measures.