EU pressurized by US to 'deliver' on non-tariff trade commitments

BRUSSELS, Aug 14 (Reuters) – The United States on Friday increased pressure on the European Union to ease its business rules, saying the bloc had promised that these rules would not get in the way of trade between the two sides.

US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder said on social media that the 27-nation bloc should honor commitments made during trade talks with President Donald Trump in Turnberry, Scotland, in July 2025.

"The EU committed 'to ensure' that its Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive 'do not pose undue restrictions on transatlantic trade'," Puzder wrote. "Now it's time for the EU to deliver."

The EU rules require large companies operating in Europe — including American firms — to report on their environmental and social impacts, such as working conditions across their supply chains.

Washington is also pushing the EU to change its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which charges fees on imports of goods made without meeting the bloc's carbon emissions standards.

Tariff deal anniversary

The new pressure comes as US and EU officials shift their focus to non-tariff barriers, after both sides agreed on tariff cuts in July 2025.

Under that agreement, the EU cut duties on industrial goods and some farm products, while the US lowered tariffs on many European goods, including cars, to 15%. Both sides also promised to "work together to reduce or eliminate" other "non-tariff barriers."

EU has already made some changes

Brussels has already softened some policies that Washington criticized over the past year, including its anti-deforestation law and methane emissions rules.

The EU also scaled back its corporate sustainability rules last year after pushback from businesses and governments. Changes agreed in December limited the rules to the largest companies and delayed the compliance deadline by two years to mid-2029.

However, the US said these changes did not go far enough. "Those reforms failed to fully address U.S. concerns," a statement said.

What comes next

Three sources familiar with the discussions said they expect joint statements in the autumn covering the non-tariff parts of the Turnberry agreement.

But several sources familiar with the EU position said the bloc was not planning further concessions on those measures.

A European Commission spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.