EU-US Tariffs 2026: What Changes for European Importers and Exporters

Key data

If your company imports products from the US or exports to that market, Regulation (EU) 2026/1455, in force since 25 June 2026, changes the rules of the game. The regulation adjusts customs duties on certain US goods and opens tariff quotas that allow access to reduced or even zero rates for specific import volumes.

The context is that of transatlantic trade tensions that have marked EU-US relations in recent years. This regulation is the EU's regulatory response to rebalance the scales: on one hand, it adjusts tariffs; on the other, it opens import quotas as a mechanism for easing tensions. The practical result is that companies operating with goods originating in the US must review their tariff position immediately.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 acts on two main levers:

• Adjustment of customs duties: It modifies the tariff rates applicable to certain goods originating in the US within the framework of the EU's common tariff system. This can mean both reductions and increases depending on the product affected.
• Opening of tariff quotas: It establishes import quotas that allow introducing specific volumes of US products at reduced or zero tariff rates. Once the quota is exhausted, ordinary rates apply.

The regulation is directly applicable in all EU Member States, which means it does not require any national transposition law. It entered into force on 25 June 2026, even before its official publication on 30 June 2026.

The sectors expressly identified as affected are agri-food, industrial and manufacturing with commercial activity with the US. Importing companies will have to manage access to quotas through the usual EU customs procedures.

Economic and operational impact

The impact varies depending on the company's position in the commercial chain:

For importers: The adjustment of tariff rates can increase or decrease the cost of US goods depending on the product. Access to tariff quotas—with reduced or zero rates—represents a significant savings opportunity, but requires acting quickly: quotas are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and become exhausted.

For European exporters: The regulation can generate an indirect benefit if commercial easing reduces the tariff retaliation that the US applies to European products. Sectors such as European agri-food—wines, olive oil, cheeses—are those that have historically suffered most from this retaliation.

Operationally, companies will have to review their tariff classifications to determine whether their products are included in the scope of the regulation, and manage access to quotas through EU customs procedures before available quotas are exhausted.

Who does it affect?

• European importers of products originating in the US in the agri-food, industrial and manufacturing sectors.
• European exporters selling to the US market and who may benefit indirectly from the reduction of trade tensions.
• Customs operators and customs agents managing import declarations of goods of US origin.
• CFOs and purchasing directors of companies with supply chains that include suppliers in the US.
• Tax and foreign trade advisors supporting companies with transatlantic activity.
• Agri-food sector companies both on the importing side (American products) and exporting side (European products at risk of retaliation).

Practical example

Imagine a Spanish agri-food company that regularly imports manufactured products from the US—for example, food processing machinery or industrial ingredients—with a relevant annual volume of operations.

Before Regulation (EU) 2026/1455, this company applied the ordinary tariff rates of the EU's common customs tariff to those goods. With the regulation's entry into force on 25 June 2026, two scenarios are possible:

• Scenario A — Quota access: If the product is included in the tariff quotas opened by the regulation and the company requests access before the quota is exhausted, it can import that volume at a reduced or zero rate, directly reducing the customs cost of the goods.
• Scenario B — Adjusted rate without quota: If the product is subject to an adjustment of the ordinary tariff rate, the company must recalculate the import cost with the new applicable rate, which may mean an increase or decrease depending on the direction of the adjustment.

In both cases, the first step is to verify the exact tariff classification of each imported product to determine whether it falls within the scope of the regulation and what regime applies to it.

What should companies do now?

1. Review the tariff classification of all products imported from the US. — Identify which goods are included in the scope of Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 and what tariff rate applies to them as of 25 June 2026.
2. Evaluate access to the tariff quotas opened. — Quotas are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Acting quickly is key to accessing reduced or zero rates before quotas are exhausted.
3. Update import cost calculations. — Recalculate the cost price of affected goods with the new tariff rates to adjust budgets, contracts and selling prices if necessary.
4. Coordinate with the customs agent or foreign trade department. — Ensure that import declarations correctly reflect the new rates and, where applicable, the applicable quota regime.
5. Monitor indirect impact if exporting to the US. — Assess whether the commercial easing resulting from the regulation reduces US tariff barriers on exported European products.
6. Consult the full text of the regulation on EUR-Lex to verify which CN codes and specific products are included in the quotas and in the rate adjustments.

Official source

Consult full regulation in official source — EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2026/1455

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=CELEX:32026R1455