EU proposes tariff reductions to implement EU-US deal
The European Commission has proposed eliminating all EU tariffs on US industrial goods, including sporting apparel, footwear, and equipment. This would open the EU market more widely to US products, while EU exports to the US would remain subject to existing tariffs.
The European Commission published a legislative proposal to implement the EU-US Joint Statement of 21 August 2025. The text foresees the elimination of all EU tariffs on US industrial goods - including sporting apparel, footwear, and equipment - as well as preferential access for certain seafood and agricultural products. Please find attached the proposal and its annexes.
Impact on the sporting goods industry:
If adopted, the proposal would mean that US-made sporting goods enter the EU market duty free.
For equipment, where EU tariffs are already low (around 3%), the immediate effect is limited. For apparel (around 12%) and footwear (between 8% and 17%), removing tariffs represents a more meaningful change, giving US-made products an easier entry into the EU market. While this is unlikely to trigger a major surge in exports overnight, it would still allow them to compete on more favourable terms than today.
By contrast, EU exports to the US will continue to face a minimum 15% tariff (and in some cases more). This underlines the imbalance: the EU is unilaterally opening its market, while the US keeps substantial barriers in place.
For sporting goods companies, this means greater exposure to US competition in the EU market. Larger global players may absorb the impact more easily, but for companies manufacturing mainly in Europe - especially in niche categories - duty-free access for US goods could translate into direct competitive pressure.
Next steps:
The proposal must still be approved by the European Parliament and the Council under the ordinary legislative procedure. The debate is already heated (see attached INTA committee minutes kindly provided by OPP), and it is unclear how the US will respond if the final legislation deviates from the July political agreement. In parallel, the US Supreme Court will soon rule on the legality of the “reciprocal” tariff, while questions also remain over the WTO compatibility of several of the measures. Taken together, these factors add further uncertainty to the broader trade context.
FESI’s position:
For now, FESI proposes to refrain from engaging publicly. We will closely follow the legislative process and the US legal developments and keep you informed of relevant updates.
If your company (or members of your association) believes that duty-free access for US-made sporting goods could significantly impact your activities, please let us know. This would allow us to re-evaluate our collective position if needed.
For more information, see:
