EU and US reach deal on steel and aluminium tariff dispute

On Sunday, 31 October, the EU and the US announced a pause in the transatlantic trade dispute over steel and aluminium tariffs. The US will partially remove Section 232 tariffs (up to historic trade volumes), while the EU will suspend its retaliatory measures. Both sides also agreed to start negotiations on a Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminium.

News
2 Nov 2021
Trade, Transatlantic
EU and US reach deal on steel and aluminium tariff dispute

The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) commends the EU and the US for putting an end to a major irritant in the EU-US relationship and charting a path for a more forward-looking approach to tackling global overcapacity of steel and aluminium. No one stood to win from further tit-for-tat measures. These tariffs failed to address unfair trading practices, the root cause of this issue, and only hurt jobs, prosperity and security on both sides of the Atlantic.

The deal demonstrates the crucial role the EU and the US can play when they work together, fighting climate change and addressing unfair trading practices. The fact that other like-minded countries will be able to join this initiative also shows how transatlantic leadership can be an engine for multilateralism. As talks unfold for this new arrangement, compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules will remain critical. The rules-based trading system provides the certainty that companies need to operate globally.

This announcement comes after a series of positive developments in the transatlantic relationship, including a pause on the long-standing aircraft subsidies dispute as well as a range of initiatives launched at the EU-US summit in June, including the creation of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The TTC provides a unique platform to make progress on connected issues, such as strengthening supply chains, promoting global standards, reforming the WTO and developing a joint approach to non-market economies. Read more about AmCham EU’s priorities for the TTC here.

Related items

Publication
23 Oct 2026

The Transatlantic Economy Pulse 2026

How are companies adjusting to an evolving transatlantic trade environment? In a year so far marked by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, The Transatlantic Economy Pulse identifies trade and investment trends between Europe and the US in the first half of 2026.

Transatlantic
Read more
Read more about The Transatlantic Economy Pulse 2026
News
21 Oct 2026

Why stability and openness matter for transatlantic investment

On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, Thibaut L’Ortye, Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer, AmCham EU, addressed MEPs with Brando Benifei, MEP (S&D, IT) and Chair, and Eva Maydell, MEP (EPP, BG) and Vice-Chair, European Parliament Delegation for relations with the United States. Taking place at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, he presented the latest trade and investment data alongside Daniel Hamilton, co-author of The Transatlantic Economy, stressing that behind the headlines lies the world’s most integrated economic relationship, worth around €8 trillion. He underlined that stability and predictability are essential, urging both sides to build on the Turnberry agreement. He also called for Europe’s industrial strategy to keep the Single Market open to investment. Read more in the latest Transatlantic Economy Pulse.

Transatlantic
Read more
Read more about Why stability and openness matter for transatlantic investment
Position Paper
16 Oct 2026

Export controls fit for today's economy

The Dual-Use Regulation gives Europe a common framework for economic security, but divergent national implementation is weakening it. The same transaction can be assessed differently depending on the Member State, with guidance on cloud and software-as-a-service transfers remains unclear. Licensing processes, meanwhile, still assume a physical consignment rather than digital workflows, which sits poorly with how integrated global businesses operate. Companies bear the added cost and legal uncertainty, while the security benefit is limited. A single EU-wide approach to intangible transfers and closer alignment with the US and UK would make controls more predictable and let authorities focus on genuine risks. Read how the revision of the Dual-Use Regulation can deliver a harmonised and future-proof framework for Europe.

Trade
Customs and trade facilitation
Read more
Read more about Export controls fit for today's economy