EU 2025 half year tariff changes
Date of Publication: July 17, 2025
The European Union has ushered in a sweeping set of regulatory and tariff changes in mid-2025, reshaping the compliance landscape for importers, exporters, and cultural goods dealers. These updates, effective from 1 July 2025, represent a shift in classifications, and regulatory practices.
Half-year tariff and classification overhaul
Modernization of HS classifications
On 1 July 2025, the EU released its half-year customs update, the combined nomenclature will have 16,570 codes (which was 16,430 before half-year updates) at the 10-digit level introducing:
- 123 new HS codes and 60 deletions/replacements.
The major industries impacted in the revisions across data elements are:
- Chemical and Allied Industries where a total of 62 new CN codes have been added
- Electrical Machinery & Equipment, along with Vehicles other than railway or tramway, saw an addition of 12 CN codes each.
- Nuclear Reactors, Boilers, Machinery and Mechanical Appliances where 11 new CN codes have been added.
Under chemicals and allied products from the above major impacted industries, the CN changes majorly relate to products collectively known as high-purity chemical substances. Under electrical machinery & equipment new CN were introduced for BLDC motors, PCBs, and EPS cables. Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances also had new CN codes. Below shows the impacted industries.
Future-dated data has been published for the years 2025 through 2028, supporting long-term planning initiatives. The majority of these updates are released in 2025, with significant changes observed in tariff preferences—particularly across chapters 03 to 87. Additionally, the most substantial updates in 2025 were seen in the areas of additional duties (notably for chapters 01 to 53) and non-preferential tariff quotas.
Cultural goods under scrutiny: New import licensing regulation
The EU Import Licensing Regulation, now in force, mandates those importers of cultural goods—particularly those over 200 years old, or 250 years for archaeological objects—must provide proof of legal acquisition from their country of origin. This measure aims to combat illicit trafficking and preserve global heritage.
Key implications:
- Applies to goods classified under Chapter 97 (works of art, collectors’ pieces, and antiques).
- Approximately 68 new CN codes have been introduced to support more granular classification.
Goods declared under customs procedures listed in Article 2(3)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2019/880 before 28 June 2025 are exempt from import licence or importer statement requirements.
Duties and charges
The most significant changes were observed in:
- Third country duty (main duty): The main duty for the 122 new codes ranges from 0% to 50%. While the main duty for the product related to mineral or chemical fertilisers, nitrogenous has been set to 6.5% + 315 EUR per 1000 kgs. Furthermore, there were no major amendments to Main Duty for the existing CN codes.
- Antidumping duty/countervailing duty: With the 2025 amendments, EU Customs imposed ADD/CVD on 1 new CN codes which were from subheading 721090 (Other - IRON AND STEEL). This was applied to imports from China. Apart from that, there were amendments to existing CN codes where ADD/CVD were applied or amended on 48 CN codes from Chapter 29,70, 73 and 85. These were mainly applied to imports from China, Egypt, India.
- Preferential duty: The preferential agreement with Mexico saw the highest amendments amongst all the FTAs. Further, for chapters 03, 07, 08, 22, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 38, 39, 40, 84, 85, 87 the duty rates were reduced to zero. This reduction was majorly for Mexico. Major products where updates were published covered are fish and others, Edible Vegetables and Fruits, Chemicals, Vehicles, and many more. Many preferential also saw duty rate changes other than reduced to zero on the following chapters 06, 07, 08, 29, 32, 39.
- Additional duties: A significant update has been published in Additional duties with present and future dates amongst chapter 01-53. These were mainly applied to imports from Belarus, Russia and Erga Omnes.
- Non-preferential quotas: From Chapter 1-84 the Non-preferential quotas has been updated.
Overall representation of update (in entries) published in different industry sectors
Controls (import and export)
New controls on EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
In a landmark move, the EU has introduced import and export controls on deforestation and forest degradation, effective 30 December 2025. The chapters affecting this update are 01-02,09,12,15-16,18,23,29,38,40-41,44,47-49,94. This aligns with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and will impact commodities such as timber, soy, palm oil, and coffee.
Businesses will need to:
- Implement due diligence systems to trace product origin.
- Ensure compliance with deforestation-free sourcing.
- Prepare for geolocation-based reporting and risk assessments.
Conclusion
These comprehensive changes underscore the EU’s growing commitment to trade defence and environmentally responsible sourcing, signalling strategic alignment with shifting global supply chain dynamics.
The tariff amendments which are effective from the 1st of July 2025, have been incorporated into the ONESOURCE Global Trade Content module which covers all important changes such as revised duty rates and regulatory conditions associated with these CN codes.
To learn more about how the ONESOURCE Global Trade suite of tools and services can help businesses analyse potential impacts, explore alternative sourcing options, and optimize their trade operations to mitigate risks and capitalize on potential advantages, please contact your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager.