Imports from EU countries face a flat 10% US tariff — down from 20% before the SCOTUS ruling on February 20, 2026. That's the headline. The reality is messier: steel and aluminum still pay 50% Section 232, the 10% Section 122 rate expires July 24 unless Congress acts, and the EU-US trade framework advancing through Parliament in late March 2026 could reshape the whole structure. Here's what EU imports actually cost US buyers right now, with real math.
Current EU Tariff Structure After SCOTUS
The 10% Section 122 rate is the baseline for every EU member state — Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, Ireland. It took effect February 24, 2026, replacing the 20% IEEPA reciprocal rate the Supreme Court struck down in V.O.S. Selections v. United States. That's a real 10-point reduction on roughly $600 billion of annual US imports from the bloc. But two carveouts still hit hard. Steel and aluminum from EU origin face 50% Section 232 — doubled from 25% in June 2025 under Proclamation 10896. And the European Commission is still negotiating a broader deal that could lock in lower rates or sector-specific exemptions. Until Congress acts, 10% is what you pay on most goods.
Worked Example: $25,000 German Machinery Shipment
Take a $25,000 CIF shipment of German CNC machinery under HTS 8458.11.00. Section 122 at 10% = $2,500. MFN base for that HTS is 4.4% — applied in parallel, so you owe both: $1,100 MFN + $2,500 Section 122 = $3,600. Add MPF at 0.3464% ($86.60) and HMF at 0.125% ($31.25) for ocean arrivals. Total landed duty: $3,717.85 — 14.9% of shipment value. Under the old 20% IEEPA rate, the same container paid roughly $5,225 in duty, or 20.9%. The SCOTUS ruling saved this importer about $1,500 per shipment. Run your own numbers in the landed cost calculator before committing to a PO.
Steel and Aluminum — The 50% Outlier
EU steel and aluminum never got relief. Section 232 tariffs sit under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 — national security authority, legally separate from IEEPA. SCOTUS didn't touch them. And the administration doubled the rate from 25% to 50% in June 2025. On a $50,000 coil of German hot-rolled steel under HTS 7208: 10% Section 122 ($5,000) + 50% Section 232 ($25,000) + MFN at 0% (steel is MFN-free) = $30,000 total duty. That's 60% of shipment value. It's why most US construction and auto buyers shifted steel sourcing to Canada and Mexico — though USMCA's 0% MFN doesn't exempt Section 232 either. The UK cut a separate deal: 25% under the Economic Prosperity Deal. The EU is still at 50%.
Sector Rates Across the EU
Outside of steel and aluminum, EU products fall into familiar MFN bands. Electronics, most machinery, aerospace parts: 0-2.5% MFN plus 10% Section 122. German luxury autos (HTS 8703): 2.5% MFN passenger car rate + 10% Section 122 = 12.5% on a $60,000 BMW 5 Series, or $7,500 per unit. Italian pharma: 0% MFN + 10% Section 122 on most drugs, but 100% on patented pharma under the 2025 surcharge. French still wine (HTS 2204): 6.3¢/L specific duty + 10% Section 122. Spanish olive oil: 5¢/kg + 10%. Always pull the specific 10-digit HTS before quoting — MFN rates vary widely within the same chapter.
EU-US Trade Deal — Parliament Vote Late March 2026
The EU-US trade framework advanced through the European Parliament in late March 2026. If ratified, it could lock in reciprocal tariff reductions, carve-outs for specific sectors, and possibly softer Section 232 treatment on EU steel. But ratification requires all 27 member states to sign off — a slow process. Don't build 2026 budgets around a deal that isn't signed. Treat the 10% Section 122 + 50% Section 232 on steel as the base case through at least Q3 2026. And watch the Section 301 investigations USTR launched March 11 — they could hit the EU specifically around digital services taxes and VAT-border adjustments.
What Changes on July 24, 2026
Section 122 has a 150-day statutory limit. It expires approximately July 24, 2026 unless Congress extends, replaces, or expands it. Three scenarios. One: Section 122 lapses, base rates revert to MFN only — most EU goods drop to 0-5% total duty. Two: Congress extends 10% flat. Three: Congress passes higher permanent tariffs, likely tied to the new Section 301 investigations. Importers signing 6-month+ contracts in April 2026 should price all three scenarios and include duty adjustment clauses. Run the numbers in the scenario simulator before signing anything with a delivery date past August 1.
Which EU Country Matters Most for Your Sourcing
Germany dominates EU exports to the US — machinery, chemicals, autos, pharma. France ships wine, cosmetics, aerospace parts, and luxury goods. Italy leads on fashion, specialty foods, Ferrari/Lamborghini supercars, and industrial machinery. Spain exports olive oil, wine, and ceramic tiles. Netherlands is mostly a transshipment hub — the 'country of origin' on your commercial invoice often isn't Dutch, it just left from Rotterdam. Ireland is the pharma hub — roughly 30% of US-bound pharmaceutical value comes through Irish operations of Pfizer, J&J, and Eli Lilly. Know the distinction: country of origin drives tariffs, country of export doesn't.
Key Takeaway
EU goods are meaningfully cheaper to import than they were in January 2026 — 10% Section 122 is half the old 20% IEEPA rate. But steel and aluminum at 50% Section 232 still break the math for heavy industry, and the July 24 expiration means any long contract needs duty flexibility built in. Use the calculator for your specific HTS and shipment value, and keep the July 24 date pinned on your 2026 purchasing calendar.
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