The European Union removed customs duties on US industrial imports this week, putting into force a trade agreement concluded with Washington last year under which the bloc eliminated tariffs on US-origin industrial goods in exchange for a 15% US tariff on EU exports.
Brent crude dropped 1.89% to a four-month low as advancing US-Iran ceasefire negotiations in Doha advances towards a full recovery of Hormuz flows and a projected OPEC+ production hike aggressively dismantled remaining Q2 geopolitical risk premiums.
Brent stabilized near $73 to cap its worst quarterly decline since 2020 as a temporary wave of cleared Gulf supply and record US production overrode a diplomatic downgrading of US-Iran peace talks in Doha, dragging prices near pre-war baselines.