FME, the Dutch trade association for the technology industry, has urged the Netherlands and the European Union to clarify US import duties on European goods as soon as possible.
The business group said a ruling by the US Supreme Court on Friday has created fresh uncertainty. According to FME, recent tariff announcements by President Donald Trump have made the need for clarity even more urgent, a spokesperson said on Sunday.
The Supreme Court has declared many of the tariffs imposed last year unlawful. In response, Trump announced new global tariffs of 10 per cent under a separate law. On Saturday, he said that rate would rise to 15 per cent.
The EU and the US reached a trade agreement last summer that included 15 per cent import duties. FME now wants to know the current status of that deal.
The organisation described the Supreme Court ruling as “positive”. FME has long opposed US import duties and said any move that reduces tariffs would be welcome.
However, the group had already warned on Friday that the ruling might have limited impact. It said Trump could rely on other laws to introduce import duties. Investigations are already under way into tariffs on medical equipment, robotics and industrial machinery, among other products. According to FME, this ruling could allow Trump to impose duties on those items. It also warned that he could significantly widen the range of products covered by the existing 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium at any time.
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