The Guardian reported on Monday this week (October 13th 2025) that Krone - one of Europe’s largest agricultural machinery manufacturers - has suspended exports of large equipment to the United States over newly introduced steel-derivative tariffs.

According to the newspaper's report, the US has created a list of 407 “derivative” goods - from hairdryers to combine harvesters - which are now subject to heightened certification and customs scrutiny. 

Krone claims the requirements demand that exporters certify the origin, weight, and value of every steel component down to nuts and bolts. 

These rules, apparently separate from a broader EU-US trade deal struck in July, have been described by industry groups as “bureaucratic hurdles” so onerous that manufacturers are reluctant to ship to the US until clarity emerges. 

For Krone, the US had been its second-largest market, accounting for some $130 million in annual sales, says The Guardian.

According to the article, Krone intends to test the waters by shipping a “test container” of smaller machinery (mowers, rakes, tedders) in the coming weeks, to see whether its paperwork meets US customs’ standards.