The European Parliament has backed a position on proposals to cut tariffs on US-based ‘industrial’ goods, a measure that could extend to certain oversized shipments – but on the strict understanding that the United States reciprocates similar concessions.

MEPs are finally set vote on measures linked to the European Commission’s proposal COM(2025)471, which would eliminate tariffs on a wide range of what are termed ‘industrial products’ if adopted by the full Parliament and implemented.

Parliament US-EU rapporteur Bernd Lange, chair of the International Trade Committee, emphasised that the EU will ‘remain in the driving seat and have the last word on the application of the deal’, and that tariff preferences for US products would only take effect once the Turnberry commitments are fully respected.

Rebalancing EU-US trade

The Turnberry deal, agreed last autumn, establishes a new political framework for rebalancing EU–US trade after months of tariff disputes that began at the start of 2025.

While the committee’s announcement refers broadly to ‘industrial products’, the proposal itself operates through the EU’s Combined Nomenclature (CN) system, with coverage determined by specific tariff codes, bringing several project cargo-relevant categories into potential scope.

Although oversized cargo is not explicitly referenced, reliance on CN classification means applicability will depend on how individual shipments are coded for customs purposes. The committee’s approach suggests that steel-derived and other industrial cargoes commonly handled in the project sector could benefit from tariff elimination — but only if the US honours its commitments, signalling a measured, conditional reset in transatlantic industrial trade.

Large industrial machinery

Chapters covering machinery, electrical equipment and articles of iron or steel include many components typically transported as heavy-lift or out-of-gauge cargo, such as large industrial machinery, fabricated units and structural steel elements. Where these fall within the annexed tariff lines, duties would be reduced to zero.

Key EU tariff rules for industrial goods

•    Parliament Committee backs COM(2025)471 cuts.
•    Applies via CN codes: machinery, iron/steel.
•    Tariffs conditional on US Turnberry commitments.
•    Steel/aluminium <50%: tariffs 50→15%.
•    Suspension clauses if new US tariffs arise.

“We have made clear that any tariff imposed on the EU or one of its member states because of their foreign policy decisions is unacceptable,” said Lange. “If tariffs were to materialise, we would immediately suspend the legislative work implementing tariff preferences on US products. Tariff threats against one of us are a threat against all of us.”

Broader safeguards

The committee’s position also introduces conditions linked to steel and aluminium content and broader safeguards. Any new tariffs imposed on the EU due to foreign policy actions would likely trigger immediate suspension of the legislation.

“We were ready to vote in January, but the US threats against Greenland and the uncertainty caused by the US administration’s response to the ruling by the US Supreme Court have twice forced us to postpone our vote,” said Lange.

The proposals will now be put to a vote by the full Parliament at the next plenary session, scheduled for 26 March.

Source: ProjectCargoJournal

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