European Parliament Votes for Questionable Customs Agreement with the USA

Donald Thanks! European Parliament Votes for Questionable Customs Agreement with the USA

2026-06-17 Source: dpa | Translated by KI 1 min Reading Time

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The Members of the European Parliament have now voted in Strasbourg (France) by a large majority to abolish tariffs on US industrial goods ...

The EU members of the European Parliament have voted by a majority in favor of the planned tariff agreement coming into effect. Trump's threats have clearly worked ...(Image: F. Schneidler) — The EU members of the European Parliament have voted by a majority in favor of the planned tariff agreement coming into effect. Trump's threats have clearly worked ...
(Image: F. Schneidler)

The European Parliament has approved the full implementation of the controversial customs agreement with the USA, reports dpa. Tariffs on US industrial goods will be abolished, and seafood as well as agricultural products from the USA are to gain better market access. However, these benefits from the EU are to be granted only conditionally. Among other things, it is planned that the EU's customs concessions could be suspended in case of violations by the USA against agreements. This would then, for example, result in renewed tariff increases. The USA is also to reduce tariffs on washing machines and other products containing steel to a maximum of 15 percent by the end of the year. If this is not done, the EU also intends to review such tariffs. Additionally, a fixed expiration date is to be established, among other measures.

The Agreement Wards Off a Trade War

The regulations correspond to an agreement that representatives of the Parliament and the Member States had already reached in May. And the European Commission agreed to the customs deal last summer in order to avert a looming trade war. At the same time, however, the EU had to accept US tariffs of up to 15 percent on most goods exports to the United States and make further concessions, such as the abolition of EU tariffs on US industrial goods, which is now happening. Donald Trump also gave the EU a deadline for implementing the trade agreement a few weeks ago. If the EU did not fulfill its part of the agreement by the US national holiday on July 4, the US President threatened that tariffs would immediately rise to a much higher level. Now, the confirmation of the EU Council of Ministers is still pending. Everything is supposed to take effect by July 4.

The statistics office Eurostat took a look at how exports and imports with regard to EU countries fared in the first quarter of 2026... (Image: F. Schneidler)

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