The European Parliament on Thursday pushed ahead with a contentious EU-U.S. tariff deal, approving safeguards after months of delays driven by legal uncertainty and political tensions in Washington.
MEPs backed amendments led by Bernd Lange by 417 votes to 154, with 71 abstentions—allowing the bloc to begin lowering tariffs on a range of American imports under last summer’s agreement with Donald Trump.
Under the framework, the EU will scrap tariffs on many U.S. goods, while Washington maintains a 15% duty on many European imports and keeps 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium. The imbalance has drawn criticism from lawmakers who describe the original deal as one-sided.
To address those concerns, parliament attached a series of safeguards. These include a sunset clause ending the arrangement on March 31, 2028, and provisions allowing Brussels to restore tariffs if the U.S. introduces new trade measures. Additional conditions aim to shield European industries affected by U.S. metal tariffs.
The vote follows months of disruption to transatlantic trade ties. Parliament had twice delayed its decision—first after Trump’s threats over Greenland, and later after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Trump tariffs 2026 struck down earlier tariff measures, prompting Washington to propose a new 15% global tariff under a different legal basis.
While the European Commission says the deal offers stability, divisions remain over whether it provides sufficient protection for European industry.
