US automakers are accusing the European Union of blocking their largest pickup trucks from European roads, potentially undermining a trade deal between Washington and Brussels. The dispute centers on the Individual Vehicle Approval scheme, which US manufacturers claim the EU is tightening to exclude models like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, and Ram 1500. These vehicles currently represent less than 0.1 percent of the European car market.

Last year, the US and EU finalized a trade agreement where Trump agreed to cut tariffs on European imports from 27.5 percent to 15 percent. The EU committed to reducing its tariffs on US vehicles from 10 percent to zero while recognizing American car standards. However, US automakers allege the EU is dragging its feet on ratification while simultaneously planning restrictions that would effectively bar their vehicles.

Andrew Puzder, the US ambassador to the EU, warned that changes to safety rules could violate the trade deal's spirit by preventing American vehicles from being sold in Europe. The American Automotive Policy Council has urged the Trump administration to block the EU's proposed tightening of IVA rules, arguing that high tariffs combined with non-tariff barriers create an unfair playing field for US manufacturers.