The joint EU-U.S. declaration on a framework for “reciprocal, fair and balanced” trade promises to ease transatlantic tensions, yet in practice places Brussels in the position of conceding more than it receives. The EU dismantles industrial tariffs, loosens strategic regulations, and undertakes sweeping commitments in energy and defense, while Washington guarantees a minimum tariff of 15% on almost all European products.
The transatlantic framework unveiled on August 21 by the European Commission and the United States was launched under the banner of “reciprocity, fairness and balance.” However, a breakdown of the commitments reveals a worrying asymmetry from the European perspective.
Brussels Opens Its Market Wide
The European Union commits to abolishing all tariffs on U.S. industrial goods, granting American industry easier access to the world’s largest single market. In addition, it lowers duties on several sensitive agricultural products—such as dairy, fruit, and processed foods—consolidating an opening that directly benefits U.S. exporters.
Steel and Aluminum: The Pending Concession
On the most sensitive front, Brussels agrees to continue paying 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum until a final agreement on tariff-rate quotas (TRQ) is reached. This clause leaves European steelmakers and the wider metallurgical industry at a clear competitive disadvantage while negotiations drag on.
Energy, Investment, and Defense: Trillion-Euro Commitments
The framework adds financial obligations of vast magnitude:
• The EU pledges to purchase €750 billion worth of U.S. energy, reinforcing reliance on American liquefied natural gas and other sources.
• A €600 billion investment package is earmarked for the U.S., in line with economic security and supply diversification strategies.
• Brussels also commits to buying U.S. military equipment, deepening defense interdependence at a time shaped by the war in Ukraine and mounting NATO pressures.
Regulatory Flexibility on Green and Governance Agendas
In parallel, the EU introduces concessions within its regulatory architecture:
• Flexibility in the application of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
• A revised timetable and requirements for legislation on imported deforestation.
• Amendments to corporate governance directives (CS3D and CSRD).
• A withdrawal of planned digital network usage fees targeting major tech firms.
• A commitment to consult Washington on customs reform, opening the door to interference in a field traditionally reserved to EU competence.
In Return, a Generalized 15%
In exchange, Brussels secures Washington’s agreement to impose a minimum 15% tariff on nearly all European products. While the U.S. introduces limited exceptions—such as aircraft, generics, chemical precursors, and cork—it maintains tariff levels that severely restrict European competitiveness in key sectors, notably automotive and semiconductors.
Reciprocity or Capitulation?
The imbalance between Brussels’ tangible concessions—comprehensive tariff removal, massive energy and defense purchases, regulatory adjustments—and Washington’s limited counteroffers raises doubts as to whether the framework truly reflects “reciprocal and fair” trade.
In an era defined by reindustrialization and the green transition, the EU appears to have prioritized transatlantic political stability at the expense of its strategic autonomy. The immediate challenge will be to determine whether upcoming rounds of negotiations can rebalance a relationship that, as it stands, clearly tilts in Washington’s favor.
