Week of 27 July to 2 August 2026
I. Turnberry Agreement: one year on, the EU extends the suspension of rebalancing measures
The EU-US trade agreement known as the “Turnberry Agreement”, concluded on 27 July 2025, marked its first anniversary this week amid renewed tension. As a reminder, the agreement caps US tariffs at 15% on most European products, in exchange for the EU removing the majority of its duties on American industrial goods and granting preferential access for certain American agricultural and fishery products.
- Steel & aluminium: the EU has given the United States until the end of 2026 to lift the surtaxes applied to 407 categories of steel and aluminium derivative products, without a strict “sunrise” clause but with a reinforced suspension clause in the event of US non-compliance.
- Extension of the EU suspension: on 30 July 2026, the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1893, extending until 6 February 2027 the suspension of European trade rebalancing measures — just before the 6/7 August deadline that would otherwise have revived those duties.
Practical implications: businesses should monitor developments on the steel/aluminium file through the end of 2026, as the suspension clause could be triggered if Washington fails to respect the 15% cap or adopts discriminatory measures against European operators.
II. WTO: Brazil launches a dispute settlement proceeding against US tariffs
On 27 July 2026, Brazil formally referred a matter to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body concerning the US tariffs applied since July to certain Brazilian products, imposed at two distinct tariff levels. Brasília describes these measures as unjustified and incompatible with multilateral trade rules.
Practical implications: this dispute adds to the already well-documented US tariff tensions with the EU and illustrates the growing recourse to the WTO mechanism, despite the continued paralysis of the Appellate Body.
III. Digital competition: record fine against Google for breach of the DMA
On 27 July 2026, the European Commission imposed a record fine on Google for breach of the Digital Markets Act. The decision comes against a backdrop of tense tariff developments: several commentators note that it immediately preceded new US customs announcements, amid a climate of cross-retaliation between European digital regulation and American trade policy.
IV. French and European customs
DELTA IE: correction of customs declarations
French customs (DGDDI) has published guidance clarifying the procedures for correcting customs declarations in DELTA IE (conditions, grounds and correction procedures before or after release of goods, within a three-year period).
War materiel: update to the French list
An order (arrêté) of 9 July 2026, which came into effect during this period, amends the French list of war materiel and defence-related products subject to prior export authorisation, transposing European Directive 2026/325.
Deadline to watch
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1553, updating the list of harmful organisms prohibited from import into the EU, must be applied by 21 August 2026 at the latest.
V. European agenda for the following week (3-9 August)
Two significant deadlines are approaching: the transposition, by 5 August, of the European directive on renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen markets; and the end, on 31 July, of the transposition period for the European directive on the right to repair, which aims to facilitate the repair of certain consumer goods.
For more details, contact us.