2025/786
14.4.2025
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/786
of 14 April 2025
suspending commercial rebalancing measures concerning certain products originating in the United States imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/778 and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2882
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 654/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1), and in particular Article 7(3) and (4) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) On 20 June 2018, the Commission adopted Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886 (2) that provides for the application of additional customs duties on imports into the Union of specified products originating in the United States of America (‘the United States’).
(2) On 7 April 2020, the Commission adopted Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/502 (3) that provides for the application of additional customs duties on imports into the Union of specified other products originating in the United States.
(3) The additional customs duties imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/502 were aimed at counter-balancing the safeguard measures in the form of additional customs duties which the United States had introduced on the basis of Section 232 of the United States’ Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on imports of specified steel and aluminium products originating in the Union, with effect from 1 June 2018, and on imports of steel and aluminium derivative products originating in the Union, with effect from 8 February 2020.
(4) On 18 December 2023, the Commission adopted Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2882 (4) suspending, until 31 March 2025, the additional
ad valorem
duties imposed by Implementing Regulations (EU) 2018/886 and (EU) 2020/502.
(5) On 10 February 2025, the United States reintroduced its safeguard measures in the form of additional customs duties on imports of steel and aluminium products and of steel and aluminium derivative products originating,
inter alia
, in the Union, at the initial levels of 25 % and 10 %
ad valorem
, respectively, with effect from 12 March 2025, for unlimited period (5).
(6) On 26 March 2025, the United States introduced a new safeguard measure in the form of additional customs duties on imports of automobiles and automobile parts products originating,
inter alia
, in the Union, at the level of 25 %, with effect from 3 April 2025, for automobiles and on the date specified in the Federal Register for automobile parts, but no later than 3 May 2025, for unlimited period (6).
(7) On 31 March 2025, the Commission adopted Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/664 (7) suspending, until 14 April 2025, the additional
ad valorem
duties imposed by Implementing Regulations (EU) 2018/886 and (EU) 2020/502.
(8) On 2 April 2025, the United States introduced additional customs duties on imports of all products originating in the Union, at the level of 20 %, with effect from 9 April 2025, for unlimited period (8).
(9) On 9 April 2025, the United States introduced the reduction for 90 days of the additional customs duties at the level of 20 % to a level of 10 %, with respect to imports of products originating in the European Union, with effect from 10 April 2025 (9).
(10) On 14 April 2025, the Commission adopted Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/778 (10) on commercial rebalancing measures concerning certain products originating in the United States of America and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886, that provides for the application of additional customs duties on imports into the Union of certain other products originating in the United States and for the amendment of certain additional customs duties as imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886.
(11) In light of the developments, such as those described in recital 9, and the evolution of the trade relationship between the Union and the United States, the Union should calibrate its response measures, as well as ensure that there are opportunities for cooperation with the United States, including with a view to resolving the controversy over the respective tariffs.
(12) Therefore, the application of the additional
ad valorem
customs duties imposed by Implementing Regulations (EU) 2025/778, (EU) 2018/886 and (EU) 2020/502 should be suspended until 14 July 2025.
(13) Consequentially, the relevant parts of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/778 should be suspended and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2882 should be amended.
(14) In view of imperative grounds of urgency justified by the need to suspend the imminent application of the relevant rebalancing measures in order to allow effective opportunities for achieving the objectives described in recital 11, the provisions of this Regulation should apply immediately. For the same reasons, the provisions of this Regulation, should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the
Official Journal of the European Union
.
(15) This Regulation is without prejudice to the Union’s position considering that the safeguard measures of the United States remain incompatible with the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization.
(16) In accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council, at the latest 14 days after its adoption, the Commission should submit this Regulation to the Trade Barriers Committee for its opinion,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
The application of Article 2 and Article 3 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/778 shall be suspended until 14 July 2025.
Article 2
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2882 is amended as follows:
(1) in Article 1, ‘31 March 2025’ is replaced by ‘14 July 2025’;
(2) in Article 2, ‘31 March 2025’ is replaced by ‘14 July 2025’.
Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the
Official Journal of the European Union
.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 14 April 2025.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN
(1) Regulation (EU) No 654/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 concerning the exercise of the Union’s rights for the application and enforcement of international trade rules and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 3286/94 laying down Community procedures in the field of common commercial policy in order to ensure the exercise of the Community’s rights under international trade rules, in particular those established under the auspices of the World Trade Organization, (
OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 50
, ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/654/oj
).
(2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886 of 20 June 2018 on certain commercial policy measures concerning certain products originating in the United States of America and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/724 (
OJ L 158, 21.6.2018, p. 5
, ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2018/886/oj
).
(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/502 of 6 April 2020 on certain commercial policy measures concerning certain products originating in the United States of America (
OJ L 109, 7.4.2020, p. 10
, ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2020/502/oj
).
(4) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2882 of 18 December 2023 suspending commercial policy measures concerning certain products originating in the United States of America imposed by Implementing Regulations (EU) 2018/886 and (EU) 2020/502 (
OJ L, 2023/2882, 19.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2882/oj
).
(5) Proclamation no. 10896 of 10 February 2025, Adjusting Imports of Steel into the United States, and the Annexes to it; Proclamation no. 10895 of 10 February 2025, Adjusting Imports of Aluminium into the United States, and the Annexes to it; Notice by the Industry and Security Bureau of April 4, 2025 Implementation of Duties on Aluminum Derivatives Beer and Empty Aluminum Cans Pursuant to Proclamation 10895 Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States.
(6) Proclamation no. 10908 of 26 March 2025, Adjusting Imports of Automobiles and Automobile Parts into the United States.
(7) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/664 of 31 March 2025 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2882 suspending commercial policy measures concerning certain products originating in the United States of America imposed by Implementing Regulations (EU) 2018/886 and (EU) 2020/502 (
OJ L, 2025/664, 31.3.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/664/oj
).
(8) Presidential Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025 Regulating Imports With a Reciprocal Tariff To Rectify Trade Practices That Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits.
(9) Executive Order of 9 April 2025 on Modifying reciprocal tariff rates to reflect trading partner retaliation and alignment.
(10) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/778 of 14 April 2025 on commercial rebalancing measures concerning certain products originating in the United States of America and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/886 (
OJ L, 2025/778, 14.4.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/778/oj
).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/786/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)