(EU) The United States and Europe have reached a 15% tariff agreement, and the EU agricultural community is strongly dissatisfied.

U.S. President Trump and European Commission President von der Leyen announced in Turnberry, Scotland, on July 27 that the United States and Europe have reached an agreement on tariffs: the United States will impose a 15% benchmark tariff on the vast majority of EU exports to the United States, replacing the previous threat of 30%; in exchange, the EU promised to expand the purchase of US energy and other products and increase investment in the United States.

The agreement's arrangement for agriculture is of particular concern: EU agricultural exports to the United States will be subject to a 15% tariff, and there is almost no exemption arrangement. Steel and aluminum industry 50% tariff remains unchanged, EU wine and spirits are not exempted, France, Italy wine industry reaction is fierce.

EU agricultural groups expressed strong dissatisfaction on the same day. The European Fruit and Vegetable Industry Association called the agreement "unilateral and completely asymmetrical"-US agricultural products get tariff-free treatment, while EU exports are subject to high tariffs; agricultural unions criticized the agreement as "at the expense of European farmers". French politicians called the agreement "unbalanced", while Italy demanded further clarification of the exemption for agricultural products.

Analysts pointed out that the agreement marks the EU's concession in the transatlantic trade game, and agricultural access has become a bargaining chip. The competitiveness of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, the income expectations of European farmers, and the implementation of the EU's energy procurement commitments to the United States will continue to be tested in the coming months.

Source: US-EU joint statement; Xinhua News Agency; Brussels Times, July 27, 2025.