As of July 1, 2026, Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 has officially entered into force, bringing a major shift in transatlantic logistics. This crucial measure redefines customs duties on imports of certain goods originating in the United States and opens new tariff quotas across the EU.
This regulation implements the commitments made in the EU-US Joint Statement of August 21, 2025. It was established to ease the trade tensions that accumulated throughout 2025—a year marked by the introduction of US tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automotive sectors—and to bring stability to a transatlantic market valued at over €1.7 trillion.
For European companies importing from the United States, this opens up a major opportunity for cost reduction, provided that customs procedures are managed with absolute precision.
What does Regulation (EU) 2026/1455 provide for?
The new regulatory framework, definitively approved by the Council of the European Union on June 25, 2026, introduces three core pillars:
Zero Duty: Total elimination of customs duties for US goods listed in Annex I of the regulation.
Elimination of the ad valorem component: For the products indicated in Annex II, the percentage tariff rate is eliminated. However, the specific duty remains applicable if the import price falls below the threshold established by the Entry Price System (EPS).
Dedicated Tariff Quotas: Opening of preferential tariff-rate quotas (listed in Annex III) valid for consecutive 12-month periods.
Which products are affected?
The tariff relief covers a very broad range of sectors:
Industrial Goods & Technology: Machinery, electrical equipment, precision instruments, and vehicles.
Chemicals & Manufacturing: Chemical and pharmaceutical products, plastics, rubber, textiles, metals, and manufactured articles.
Agri-food & Seafood: Nuts, dairy products, fruit and vegetables (fresh and processed), seeds, soybean oil, pork, and bison meat.
Critical Bottlenecks for Importers: Origin and Compliance
Our customs experts warn: The tariff benefit does not apply automatically simply because the goods are shipped from the United States. There are two golden rules to follow before clearing customs:
1. Pay close attention to non-preferential origin
Until bilateral preferential rules of origin are negotiated, the regulation dictates that the origin of the goods must be determined based on the non-preferential origin rules of the Union Customs Code (Reg. EU No 952/2013).
The practical risk: If you purchase a product from a US supplier that was originally manufactured or underwent its primary processing in a third country (e.g., in Asia), that product will not qualify for the tariff relief. The goods must be wholly obtained in the US or have undergone their last substantial transformation there.
2. Safeguard clauses (Focus on Steel and Aluminum)
The agreement is slated to run until December 31, 2029, but the European Commission will constantly monitor import flows. A safeguard mechanism is in place to suspend the benefits if a surge in imports threatens to harm EU industry.
Furthermore, there is a specific focus on CN chapters 72, 73, and 76 (cast iron, iron, steel, and aluminum): if by December 31, 2026, the US continues to apply tariffs higher than 15% on European steel and aluminum derivatives, the EU will suspend the duty-free treatment granted to these US products.
How to seize this opportunity without risks?
To turn this regulatory update into a real competitive advantage for your business, strategic customs planning is everything. Before scheduling your next orders and shipments from the US, our team recommends verifying:
The exact Combined Nomenclature (CN) code of the goods.
Compliance with US non-preferential origin requirements.
The availability and management of the applicable tariff quotas.
As your shipping partners, we are fully equipped to assist your business in navigating these new compliance steps and securing these tariff benefits at any EU port of entry.
