The measures target a wide range of U.S. exports and are part of the EU’s response to long-standing U.S. tariffs on European steel and aluminum, originally enacted in 2018.
The timing of the EU’s tariffs, announced on April 9, has drawn attention across the marine industry. While the measures are technically a response to long-standing U.S. tariffs on European steel and aluminum dating back to 2018 - not a reaction to President Trump’s recent moves - their rollout comes at a particularly delicate diplomatic moment. Just one day earlier, Trump had announced a 90-day pause on elevated tariffs for European imports, including yachts, signaling a potential thaw in transatlantic trade tensions.
What the EU Tariffs Include - and Why They Matter
The EU’s new measures - valued at around €21 billion ($23 billion) in targeted U.S. goods - include tariffs on a wide array of consumer and industrial products such as motorcycles, peanut butter, corn, chewing gum, and crucially, recreational boats and yachts. The duties will be introduced in three phases, beginning April 15, and continue through December, unless a negotiated settlement is reached.
The European Commission emphasized that these are reciprocal countermeasures in response to longstanding U.S. tariffs on EU steel and aluminum that date back to Trump’s first term. However, the overlap with the current yacht import discussion - and the inclusion of U.S.-built yachts in the retaliation package - has drawn pointed criticism from Europe’s own boating industry.
European Boating Industry (EBI): “Unrelated Sectors Shouldn’t Suffer”
In a sharply worded statement, the European Boating Industry (EBI) reiterated its opposition to using the recreational boating sector as a pawn in broader trade disputes. The organization, which represents more than 32,000 marine businesses across Europe, many of them SMEs, warned that the retaliatory tariffs on U.S. boats could result in collateral damage to European manufacturers, dealers, and charter operators who rely on transatlantic flows of vessels, parts, and expertise.
The recreational boating industry is not part of the steel and aluminum dispute and should not be penalized as a result of it.
European Boating Industry (EBI)
“Tariffs disrupt businesses, hinder growth, and jeopardize jobs,” the EBI said. “The recreational boating industry is not part of the steel and aluminum dispute and should not be penalized as a result of it.”
The group is urging both Brussels and Washington to permanently remove tariffs on unrelated sectors, and expressed cautious optimism that Trump’s 90-day pause on EU tariffs might create room for diplomacy - if the EU is also willing to show flexibility
A Fragile Pause from Washington
Just one day before the EU’s retaliation announcement, Trump had made a surprising move by pausing elevated tariffs on European imports, including yachts, and reverting to a flat 10% rate - a policy shift widely welcomed by EU shipbuilders and U.S. buyers alike.
However, the optics of the EU’s retaliatory timing now risk provoking a political backlash. Trump, who remains deeply committed to his “America First” trade doctrine, could interpret the EU’s action as undermining or exploiting his pause - and potentially reinstate harsher tariffs in response.
The EU’s move wasn’t aimed at Trump’s new tariffs, but that may not matter politically...
The EU’s move wasn’t aimed at Trump’s new tariffs, but that may not matter politically,” said a senior trade analyst. “The risk now is that he reacts as though it was.”
European Boating Industry at a Glance
- 32,000+ businesses across Europe
- 280,000+ direct jobs
- 96% are SMEs, highly sensitive to trade barriers
Recreational marine exports, especially to the U.S., are vital to sector health
The EBI’s call for diplomacy echoes its longstanding efforts to depoliticize trade in marine products. In its statement, it appealed for “permanent removal of tariffs on unrelated sectors such as recreational boats” to promote transatlantic economic cooperation.
What’s Next for the Yacht Industry?
If cooler heads prevail, the EU tariffs may ultimately serve as leverage in a broader negotiation to resolve steel, aluminum, and other cross-sector tensions. But for now, the inclusion of U.S.-built boats on the EU tariff list sends a troubling signal to boat builders and dealers on both sides of the Atlantic.
With the 90-day tariff pause from the U.S. still in effect, and the EU’s first tariff phase not yet active, the coming weeks may prove pivotal for marine trade policy. In the meantime, buyers and sellers are advised to closely monitor tariff announcements, assess the duty-paid status of inventory, and remain nimble.
Looking for your dream luxury yacht? Explore our complete collection of superyachts for sale worldwide, tracked in real-time by YachtBuyer MarketWatch. We scan the entire market to ensure access to all genuine listings, saving you time. Alternatively, you can also view all other yachts for sale.
