Author: Vanessa 22 Apr. 2025     Category: News

The US government officially implemented a new round of tariff adjustment plans in April 2025, which is a major adjustment following the 2024 trade policy review. The new tariff policy mainly targets industrial manufactured products and key technology products, and imposes a 10-25% tariff on some EU industrial products. The key products involved in the filtration industry are as follows:

This series of tariff policies has also had many far-reaching impacts on the European filtration industry:

1. Export costs surge, weakening price competitiveness

Europe is a global leader in air filtration technology. Companies such as Mann+Hummel in Stuttgart, Germany, and Camfil in Lyon, France have long exported high-end filtration equipment to the United States. After the tariff increase, the price advantage of European products has declined and may be replaced by domestic or Asian competitors.

2. Increased pressure on supply chain adjustment

Many small and medium-sized enterprises in Milan, Italy and Barcelona, ​​Spain rely on key raw materials (such as high-efficiency filter materials) imported from the United States. The increase in tariffs has led to higher production costs, forcing companies to look for alternative sources of supply, such as Eastern Europe or Asia.

3. Changes in market structure and intensified competition

Some European companies may be forced to reduce their dependence on the US market and expand into emerging markets. Rotterdam’s status as a logistics hub in the Netherlands makes it a key export adjustment point, while Warsaw, Poland’s low-cost manufacturing advantage may attract more investment.

Faced with the impact of tariff policies on the filtration industry, the EU is clearly not ready to sit back and do nothing, and various response plans have emerged:

1. Supply chain optimization and near-shore production

  • Establish production bases in Eastern Europe such as Prague, Czech Republic or Budapest, Hungary to reduce dependence on the US supply chain.
  • Cooperate with renewable energy companies in Northern Europe (such as Stockholm, Sweden) to develop low-carbon filtration technology and enhance sustainable competitiveness.

2. Technological innovation and transformation to the high-end market

  • Industrial giants in Munich, Germany can increase R&D investment, develop intelligent air purification systems, and increase product added value.
  • Environmental technology companies in Paris, France can combine AI technology to optimize filtration efficiency and consolidate their high-end market position.

3. Expand emerging markets and reduce single market risks

  • Strengthen the layout in Dubai, UAE (growing demand for environmental protection infrastructure in the Middle East) and Singapore (stricter air quality supervision in Southeast Asia).
  • Use the EU Green New Deal to promote policy support in Brussels, Belgium, and promote growth in the European internal market.

4. Policy lobbying and international cooperation

  • European air filtration associations (such as EUROVENT, headquartered in Frankfurt) can work with governments to promote US-EU tariff negotiations.
  • Strive for tariff exemptions or transition periods for key products through the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC).

Caught between trade protectionism and geopolitical games, European companies must win both the “cost war” (supply chain resilience) and the “technology war” (material science breakthroughs), otherwise they will repeat the mistakes of the photovoltaic industry being marginalized. In the short term, the potential challenges and risks that European filtration companies may face remain severe:

  • Cost pressure: The overall production cost of European filters is expected to rise by 8-12% in 2025 (Boston Consulting Group data).
  • Technical barriers: The United States may restrict the export of nanofiltration/reverse osmosis membrane technology, threatening Europe (such as the seawater desalination project in Barcelona, ​​Spain).
  • Policy game: The EU intends to impose retaliatory tariffs on US lithium batteries and liquefied natural gas, which may trigger further trade frictions.

When Trump’s tariffs smash the traditional trade model, engineers in Munich, designers in Paris and environmentalists in Copenhagen are creating new alliances. History tells us that every trade war will give birth to a new generation of industry champions. This time, can European filtration companies turn the crisis into a springboard? The answer lies in the factories in Warsaw, the laboratories in Zurich and the markets in Istanbul. Follow Trenntech to learn about the latest global filtration industry information.

Vanessa

My name is Vanessa, and I am a content writer specializing in corporate content creation. With more than 10 years of writing experience, I am committed to providing companies with high-quality, impactful content to help them stand out in a competitive market. My background covers multiple industries, including technology, finance, marketing, etc. In the process, I have accumulated rich knowledge and skills, and can deeply understand the needs of audiences in different fields, so as to create more targeted articles and content. I am good at writing blog posts, white papers, case studies, product descriptions, etc., and I am familiar with SEO optimization strategies to ensure that the content gets good exposure in search engines. At the same time, I also have good project management skills and can complete high-quality works within a tight time frame. I believe that high-quality content can not only convey information, but also build customer trust and brand image.