EU formalizes list of 119 tariff positions as contingent countermeasure: activation conditioned on July 4th and Council vote

On May 19, 2026, the European Commission formally submitted to the EU Council the definitive list of contingent tariff countermeasures in response to threatened tariffs from the United States administration. The list covers 119 headings of the EU's Combined Nomenclature (CN) — the instrument through which the EU implements the WCO Harmonized System — with additional duties ranging from 10% to 50% on goods originating in the United States.

Compared to the preliminary list published on May 8, the final version adds 19 new headings across three sectors: agricultural machinery, cosmetic products, and telecommunications equipment. This expansion reflects the outcome of the Commission's internal consultation process and sharpens the sectoral scope of the projected countermeasures.