The US has increased its tariffs on steel and aluminum since the EU-US trade deal was struck.
75% confidence
EconomyNorth America
Omissions
The claim does not specify which EU-US trade deal is being referenced. The most significant agreement was the Joint Statement of August 21, 2025, establishing a framework for reciprocal trade. A subsequent formalization occurred in May 2026.
The most dramatic tariff expansion—adding 407 product categories to the derivative steel and aluminum tariff list—occurred on August 19, 2025, two days BEFORE the EU-US Joint Statement was issued, not after the deal.
The April 2026 tariff modifications appear to have been mixed: while characterized as 'strengthening,' some derivative goods saw tariff reductions from 50% to 25%, while pure metal products remained at 50%. The net effect as a pure 'increase' is nuanced.
The June 2026 tariff adjustments were announced very close to the session date (June 15, 2026); the MEP may not have had full details of their scope.
Sources
PrimaryThe White HouseFact sheet titled 'President Donald J. Trump Strengthens Tariffs on Steel, Aluminum, and Copper Imports,' published April 2026, referencing the February 2025 overhaul and subsequent strengthening actions on steel and aluminum tariffs.
PrimaryThe White HouseReferences Proclamation 11021 of April 2, 2026, titled 'Strengthening Actions Taken To Adjust Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper Into the United States,' and announces further adjustments to the tariff regimes in June 2026.
PrimaryThe White HouseJoint Statement of August 21, 2025, establishing a US-EU framework agreement on reciprocal fair and balanced trade; effective September 1, 2025, the US committed to apply only MFN tariff rates to certain EU products.
AcademicGerman Economic Institute (IW Köln)Study confirms the EU-US deal was effective from September 2025 to February 2026, noting that 'by as early as October 2025, the effective tariff rate returned to a level broadly in line with that in the period before the US–EU deal,' indicating the deal's limited durability.
SecondaryEuropean ParliamentPress release dated May 18, 2026: 'Agreement reached to put EU-US trade on a more stable footing.' Notes that 'In August 2025, the US added 407 product categories to the list of derivative steel and aluminium products subject to tariffs.'