The Parliament has been debating proposals to take away EU import duties on U.S. industrial items and enhance entry for U.S. agricultural produce, initially agreed with Mr. Trump in 2020.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
European Union lawmakers voted on Thursday (March 19, 2026) to advance laws associated to the EU-U.S. commerce deal struck final 12 months, ending months of delay after U.S. President Donald Trump’s menace of additional tariffs and his new import levy.
The commerce committee of the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly— by 29 to 9 and one abstention— in favour of the laws, though with a number of added safeguards, reflecting considerations that the Trump administration is not going to keep on with its aspect of the deal.
The Parliament has been debating proposals to take away EU import duties on U.S. industrial items and enhance entry for U.S. agricultural produce, a key a part of the deal struck in Scotland final July, in addition to to proceed zero duties for U.S. lobsters, initially agreed with Mr. Trump in 2020.
The proposals require approval by the Parliament and EU governments. Many lawmakers have complained the commerce deal is one-sided, with the EU required to chop most import duties whereas the U.S. sticks to a broad price of 15%. Nevertheless, they’d beforehand appeared prepared to simply accept it, albeit with situations, comparable to a sundown clause and measures to reply to attainable surges in U.S. imports.
The EU meeting’s commerce committee had been resulting from vote on laws at first of the 12 months, a vital step in the direction of approval of the deal.
Nevertheless, they halted their work after Mr. Trump’s menace to impose new tariffs on European allies that didn’t again his proposed acquisition of Greenland in January and his launch of an import surcharge in February.
The committee subsequently determined so as to add a “dawn clause” to make EU import obligation reductions conditional on Washington fulfilling its aspect of the discount. This helped break the impasse. Thursday’s vote just isn’t the tip of the method. The full EU meeting can even be requested to present its view, in all probability subsequent week. Representatives of parliament and EU governments will then negotiate last texts earlier than a last vote of approval within the European Parliament. That is unlikely earlier than April or Might.
Printed – March 19, 2026 10:11 pm IST