The European Parliament has given final approval to a tariff agreement with the United States, paving the way for the implementation of a deal aimed at stabilising transatlantic trade relations after months of tensions.
The agreement, reached last July between the European Union and the administration of US President Donald Trump, sets tariffs on most EU exports to the United States at 15 percent while eliminating tariffs on US industrial goods entering the bloc.
Tuesday’s vote in Strasbourg marks the last major political hurdle for the pact after it was already endorsed by EU member states. Around 440 lawmakers voted in favour, with 151 against and 50 abstentions.
The approval keeps the EU on track to meet Trump's July 4 deadline for ratification and avoid the threat of additional US tariffs on European vehicles.
Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the vote, saying the bloc was now days away from fulfilling its commitment to remove tariffs on US industrial imports.
Safeguards built into the deal
While backing the agreement, lawmakers inserted several protections designed to shield the EU if Washington fails to uphold its commitments.
The deal will expire at the end of 2029 unless renewed, and the European Commission has been granted the authority to suspend the pact if the United States disrupts trade or investment flows.
Bernd Lange, head of the parliament's trade committee, described the agreement as imperfect but significantly improved, while stressing that lawmakers would closely monitor its implementation.
Supporters argue the deal lays the groundwork for greater economic stability between two trading partners whose relationship is worth roughly $2 trillion annually.
Critics, however, remain wary after Trump's previous tariff measures targeting steel, aluminium and automobiles, as well as broader disputes that strained relations between Brussels and Washington.
Still, centrist lawmaker Karin Karlsbro said the agreement had established "a foundation for stability" despite continuing uncertainty in transatlantic relations.
