"US·EU Close to 15% Tariff Compromise"

According to the Financial Times (FT) on the 23rd (local time), the United States and the European Union (EU) are reportedly close to reaching an agreement to impose a 15% tariff on European imports.

According to the media outlet, the EU is likely to agree to this mutual tariff rate to avoid the 30% tariff increase announced by US President Donald Trump, effective August 1. Certain items such as aircraft, alcoholic beverages, and medical devices are expected to be exempt from tariffs.

Currently, during negotiations with the US, the EU has been bearing an additional provisional 10% tariff since last April, on top of the existing average tariff of 4.8%.

The media outlet, citing sources, stated, "This 15% tariff is a consolidation of previously imposed base tariffs and the temporarily added burden during the negotiation period," and added, "The EU understands this as a compromise to maintain the existing terms rather than a substantial additional pressure."

Meanwhile, in the automobile sector, where the US had announced high tariffs, the current tariff of 27.5% is expected to be reduced to 15%.

It has been reported that the EU is prepared to enforce retaliatory tariffs amounting to €93 billion (about ₩150 trillion) if a final agreement is not reached by August 1.