Europe warns U.S. trade deals at risk after Trump imposes global 15% tariff
Feb 23rd 2026
After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his previous tariffs policy, President Trump announced an immediate global 15% import duty using a different legal route, prompting alarm from EU and U.K. officials who say last year’s trade deals may be undermined.
- Trump announced an immediate global 15% import tariff after the Supreme Court struck down his earlier tariffs policy.
- He initially signaled a universal 10% levy under a different legal framework before increasing the rate to the 15% legal maximum for 150 days without Congressional approval.
- EU and U.K. officials warned the move could upend trade deals signed with the United States and demanded legal clarity from Washington.
- The European Parliament trade committee has called an emergency meeting and may propose suspending implementation of the U.S.-EU deal pending legal assessment.
- U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said trade deals still stand and that Washington is engaged in active conversations with partners.
- Certain goods including pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, fertilizers and some agricultural products are exempt from the new duties while other sectoral tariffs remain unchanged.
- Analysis shows the U.K. could see a 2.1 percentage point rise in its average tariff rate and the EU a 0.8 point rise, while markets opened lower and ECB President Christine Lagarde warned of potential disruptions to transatlantic trade.