U.S. farmers could begin benefiting from a U.S.-European Union trade pact early next year, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg told Agri-Pulse in an interview Wednesday.
The European Union has come under fire in recent days as senior U.S. trade officials prepare for a string of Brussels trips. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer complained to the Financial Times earlier this week that tariffs on American products remain too high, with another official suggesting the EU isn’t implementing the July deal quickly enough.
“The time frame for implementation has been a critical message from us this week,” said Lindberg, speaking via video link. He was in Brussels Wednesday leading a trade mission with 11 ag cooperators after attending meetings at the World Food Program in Rome earlier in the week.
President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed on the terms of a trade pact in Scotland in July. The agreement sought to cap U.S. tariffs on most EU products at 15% in exchange for the EU lifting tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and establishing tariff-rate quotas for “non-sensitive” agricultural products.
The U.S. implemented its side of the deal in a pair of executive orders signed in July and September, but the EU’s implementing process requires its two legislative bodies – the Parliament and the Council of the European Union – to approve the deal.
The Commission introduced legislation in August, but it has yet to advance, according to the European Parliament.
Lindberg said U.S. agriculture industry representatives are all asking the same questions: “When can we see the tariff structures come into place, and when can we begin to effectuate sales based on the new framework agreement?”
Based on meetings with officials in Brussels, Lindberg said he expects implementation in early 2026.
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“We have a pretty good sense of what this will look like. And there are eager buyers over here who are looking forward to buying our products,” Lindberg said.
The European Commission did not immediately respond to Agri-Pulse's request for comment on the timeline.
Greer is expected to meet with his EU counterpart, Maroš Šefčovič, at the end of the week. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is also slated to travel to Brussels for meetings next week.
“We're very focused on the accountability piece here in Europe,” Lindberg said, but he stressed that he has heard nothing to suggest that the EU will not live up to the terms of the deal.
“That's been loud and clear from them since we've been here – that they did sign a framework agreement with us, and they do intend to live up to that agreement,” Lindberg said. “At this point in time, we're more focused on the timeline of implementation than specifically holding them accountable to the deal terms, although that obviously can change.”
Olof Gill, European Commission spokesperson for trade, said in a statement to Agri-Pulse that the EU "remains fully focused on the pragmatic implementation of the EU-US statement. We are results-oriented in this work, aiming for concrete and balanced outcomes delivering mutual benefit for both sides, in line with the scope of the EU-US Joint Statement. The Commission continues to engage with the US both at political and technical levels."
Lindberg also provided an update on ongoing negotiations with India, reiterating that agriculture will be a part of any final deal and suggesting that, while ag remains one of the sticking points in negotiations, it's not the only outstanding issue.
“I wouldn't describe agriculture as the only sticking point, nor would I describe it as a significant one,” Lindberg said.
Most Indian exports currently face a 50% tariff in the U.S. market – a 25% reciprocal duty plus an additional 25% tariff over its continued purchases of Russian oil. On Monday, India’s chief negotiator with the U.S., Rajesh Agrawal, told Indian media that the two sides are closing in on a package.
Lindberg wouldn’t comment on a timeline for a deal but said he is “excited about where things are headed.
“But until a deal is announced, all the details obviously won't be finalized and buttoned up,” he added.
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