# EU Parliament Approves Customs Deal with the USA: Increased Certainty in Planning, but Steel Issue Persists **Category:** Customs | **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion | **Published:** 2026-06-16 | **Updated:** 2026-06-17 **Tags:** EU USA Zolldeal, Zoll Deal, USA Import, Stahlzölle USA, Strafzölle USA, Transatlantischer Handel, Export USA, Zollschutzklausel, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, Schienentransport, Zoll > The EU Parliament has approved the EU-US customs deal. A ceiling of 15 percent applies to most EU goods entering the USA. Safeguard clauses remain in place. --- The EU Parliament approved the long-disputed customs deal with the USA on June 16, 2026. This allows the European Union to implement an important part of the agreement that was negotiated as early as the summer of 2025. For European exporters, the deal mainly brings a bit more planning certainty. The USA plans to apply a maximum overall tariff of 15 percent on most goods from the EU. This includes key products such as cars and auto parts. In return, the EU is lowering or eliminating its tariffs on numerous goods from the USA. This primarily affects industrial products as well as certain agricultural and fishery goods. However, the customs dispute is not entirely settled. Especially for steel and aluminum, there remain open questions. The USA has imposed significantly higher tariffs in this area. Therefore, the EU has included a safeguard clause for certain processed steel and aluminum products. If the USA continues to demand more than 15 percent tariffs on these products by the end of 2026, the EU can suspend its own tariff concessions again. Furthermore, the EU Commission must report to Parliament by early December 2026. It is important to note that the statement 'Steel at a maximum of 15 percent' does not apply universally to all steel products. There remain significant burdens and uncertainties for conventional steel and aluminum. The deal is fundamentally valid until December 31, 2029. After that, it will automatically end unless both sides agree to an extension. This time limitation is intended to prevent the EU from making permanent concessions if the USA does not adhere to the agreements. For logistics, this is nevertheless good news. Companies can plan supply chains, prices, and transportation between Europe and the USA somewhat better again. However, one cannot really speak of true free trade at a tariff level of 15 percent. --- For exporters and freight forwarders, the decision brings a bit more clarity. Those supplying goods to the USA can expect a maximum tariff level of 15 percent for many products. However, customs tariff numbers and product groups should always be checked individually. Particularly for steel, aluminum, vehicles, and further processed metal products, there are still special regulations. Long-term offers should also not simply be calculated with a fixed tariff rate. The deal includes protective clauses and is only valid until the end of 2029. In short: The major tariff dispute has been temporarily alleviated. However, it is not truly resolved yet. --- The EU Parliament approved the EU-US customs deal on June 16, 2026. The voting concluded with 440 votes in favor, 151 against, and 50 abstentions. The USA intends to apply a maximum overall tariff of 15 percent on most EU goods. The rule applies, among other things, to cars and auto parts. In return, the EU reduces tariffs on numerous US industrial products. Certain agricultural and fishery products from the USA also receive concessions. The 15 percent cap does not apply uniformly to all steel and aluminum products. The EU can suspend tariff concessions if the USA continues to demand more than 15 percent on certain steel and aluminum products by the end of 2026. The EU Commission must report on developments concerning steel and aluminum by December 1, 2026. The regulation is generally valid until December 31, 2029. An extension is possible but must be renegotiated. The formal approval by the Council of the EU is still pending. --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/eu-parlament-billigt-zolldeal-mit-den-usa-mehr-planungssicherheit-aber-stahlproblem-bleibt-20260616184954](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/eu-parlament-billigt-zolldeal-mit-den-usa-mehr-planungssicherheit-aber-stahlproblem-bleibt-20260616184954)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/eu-parlament-billigt-zolldeal-mit-den-usa-mehr-planungssicherheit-aber-stahlproblem-bleibt-20260616184954](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/eu-parlament-billigt-zolldeal-mit-den-usa-mehr-planungssicherheit-aber-stahlproblem-bleibt-20260616184954)*