European Parliament approves elimination of tariffs with the US

The European Parliament voted on Tuesday in Strasbourg by a substantial majority in favour of a trade agreement that envisages the elimination of EU tariffs on all US industrial goods. The accord is part of a broader trade package agreed between Trump and von der Leyen in July 2025 and is intended to prevent higher US tariffs on European goods. The agreement requires approval from the EU Council to enter into force.

The European Parliament confirmed on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, at a plenary session in Strasbourg by a substantial majority a controversial trade agreement with the US. According to the document, the European Union will eliminate tariffs on all American industrial goods and will open its market more extensively to US seafood, dairy products, pork and soybean oil.

Agreement content and conditions

The agreement includes a safeguard clause: if Washington were to raise tariffs on EU goods again, the European Union has the right to suspend its trade concessions. Additionally, the EU expects the US to reduce this year its tariffs on European washing machines and steel-containing products to 15 percent or less. If this is not done, the EU is considering implementing similar measures itself.

The initial agreement on tariff elimination was reached between EU Council and European Parliament negotiators in May 2026. The elimination of import tariffs on US industrial goods is to remain in effect until the end of 2029.

Trump and von der Leyen deal

The agreement is part of a broader trade deal which Donald Trump and Ursula von der Leyen concluded in July 2025. Under it, Washington committed to maintaining tariffs on EU goods at 15 percent across all sectors, with the exception of steel and aluminium, which are subject to a 50 percent rate.

In recent weeks, Trump has put pressure on Europe, demanding that the EU meet the obligations set out in the agreement by 4 July and threatening to raise tariffs to "much higher levels" otherwise.

Next steps

European Parliament approval is an important step, but to enter into force the agreement also requires confirmation from the EU Council. The US is the EU's largest trading partner, and their bilateral economic relations account for approximately 30% of all global trade.