Brussels: The European Union on Wednesday officially removed customs duties on imports of US industrial products, marking the implementation of a trade agreement reached with Washington last year. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on the US-based social media platform X that the bloc had eliminated these tariffs, stating that it bodes well for transatlantic trade.

According to Anadolu Agency, von der Leyen emphasized that the removal of tariffs would lead to "more predictability, more choice," and "better prices" for businesses and consumers in the EU. She highlighted that this move fulfills a commitment under an EU-US joint statement and showcases the strength of the transatlantic relationship, which she described as 'the most valuable in the world.'

The main regulation that legally implements the EU's side of the trade agreement came into effect on Wednesday following its publication in the EU Official Journal. Under this arrangement, the EU has removed tariffs on a wide range of US-origin industrial goods and has begun granting preferential market access to various agricultural and seafood products from the US.

The agreement also includes safeguard mechanisms to protect the EU's economic interests and is set to remain in effect until December 31, 2029. This development follows negotiations on the EU-US trade deal, which concluded in July 2025 at former US President Donald Trump's golf resort in Scotland. As part of the deal, while the EU agreed to lift tariffs on US products, Washington committed to imposing a 15% customs tariff on EU-origin goods.