EU Drafts New Implementation Plan for US Trade Deal, Targets Tariff Reductions and Economic Security

The European Union is preparing a new proposal to the United States aimed at advancing the next phase of the trade deal reached between the two sides earlier this summer, according to people familiar with the matter.

The plan, which has not yet been announced in the US, will center on five key areas, including the lowering of rates for additional products such as wines and spirits.

The initiative comes ahead of a meeting later this month between EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic and his American counterparts, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The move follows proposals sent by Washington to Brussels earlier this year, in which the US sought a legally binding framework to reform EU regulations it claimed were detrimental to American businesses, the sources added.

The agreement struck in August between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump imposed a 15% tariff on most EU products entering the US. The deal also included commitments to continue cooperation on issues such as addressing steel exports and eliminating non-tariff barriers. The 15% tariff ceiling also applies to cars, and the EU now seeks to ensure that the same cap extends to other sectors that could potentially face targeted tariffs in the future.

Under the terms of the current deal, a limited number of EU products already benefit from reduced tariffs, while the European Commission has introduced legislation to remove duties on US industrial goods and certain non-sensitive agricultural exports.

A Commission spokesperson declined to comment directly on the new plan but confirmed that “the EU is cooperating with the US at both a political and technical level.”

According to the sources, the yet-unveiled “implementation action plan” will focus on five main areas. These include tariffs and market access—where Brussels aims to secure lower rates for a wider range of goods, notably including wines and spirits. The plan also calls for enhanced dialogue to tackle concerns around standards, digital trade, technical barriers, and other related issues.

In addition, the proposal will explore closer cooperation in the steel and aluminum industries, as the EU seeks to work with Washington to confront the problem of global overcapacity. Currently, EU exports of steel, aluminum, and related products continue to face tariffs of up to 50%. The Commission, which oversees trade policy for the bloc, wants to introduce a quota mechanism that would allow a defined volume of these exports to benefit from reduced tariff levels.

The action plan also envisions the creation of a joint working group on economic security.

This new body would focus on critical policy areas such as investment screening, export controls, public procurement, and the supply of essential raw materials, according to the sources.

Furthermore, the plan will monitor and regulate the strategic purchases and investments the EU pledged as part of the August agreement with the Trump administration. These include commitments related to liquefied natural gas (LNG) and semiconductor chips, both considered vital to the bloc’s energy and technology security.

EU envoys are being briefed on the draft plan this week, the sources confirmed.

By fLEXI tEAM