EU Parliament ratifies US‑EU trade agreement, removes tariffs on industrial goods

The European Parliament approved the final legal measures to implement the EU‑US trade agreement reached in August 2025 at Turnberry, Scotland, between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Two packages were adopted: the first eliminates customs duties on all US industrial products and grants preferential market access for a wide range of EU fish and agricultural goods; the second extends tariff exemption to lobsters, including processed lobster products. In exchange, the United States agreed to cap tariffs on most EU exports at 15 % and lower duties on European automobiles.

The Parliament inserted safeguards, such as the ability to suspend tariff concessions if the US re‑imposes duties, a “sunset clause” requiring a new parliamentary approval after 31 December 2029, and a monitoring mechanism that obliges the European Commission to report on trade flows every three months. Specific protections for steel, aluminium and agricultural sectors were also codified. The votes were 440‑151‑50 and 444‑152‑54 respectively. Bernd Lange, chair of the EU’s International Trade Committee, highlighted the deal’s strengthened monitoring and the commitment to a stable transatlantic partnership.