The European Parliament gave its final approval on Tuesday to the EU-US trade agreement negotiated last summer by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump in Turnberry, Scotland. The vote, with 440 in favour, 151 against, and 50 abstentions, clears the way for the deal to take effect, even as Trump escalates his trade war rhetoric against European partners.
The agreement removes EU duties on most US industrial goods, while European exporters will face a 15 percent US tariff on their products. Critics within the Parliament have long argued the terms are unbalanced, but the Commission maintains it secured the best possible arrangement under the circumstances.
“We said, and we still believe, this is not what it should be,” Belgian MEP Kathleen Van Brempt told reporters before the vote on behalf of the Socialists and Democrats group. She added that the Commission would not have concluded such a deal if not for security considerations, namely maintaining US support for Ukraine.
Trump's Tariff Threats Complicate Ratification
The vote came just one day after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on French wine and champagne unless Paris removes its digital tax on US technology giants. This is not the first time the US president has used trade measures as a coercive tool against European allies. Earlier this year, Trump threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on EU cars after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised the war in Iran. He also previously threatened tariffs on EU countries that would not allow him to acquire Greenland.
These threats prompted EU lawmakers to freeze the ratification process earlier this year. They eventually secured several safeguards to protect the agreement from future US pressure. A “sunset clause” was introduced, ending the trade deal on 31 March 2029 — after Trump's current term — unless renewed. Additionally, the Commission can suspend the agreement at the request of either Parliament or a member state if the US fails to lift tariffs on European steel and aluminium by the end of 2026.
“We have a strong suspension clause, so that if the US breaches the deal, we come back to our tariff system,” German MEP Bernd Lange said.
The negotiations between MEPs and EU member states were tense in May, with the Parliament sacrificing some of its demands to finalise the deal. The Commission pushed for swift implementation, warning that the US would not implement its side if the EU delayed further.
The approval comes amid a broader context of transatlantic trade tensions. Trump's latest threats against French wine echo his earlier warnings of a 100 percent tariff on French wine over the digital tax, as reported in our coverage of the G7 summit in Évian. The summit itself was dominated by geopolitics, trade, and AI, with Ukraine talks advancing alongside discussions on Iran and Trump's return.
For now, the trade deal provides a measure of stability, but the safeguards inserted by MEPs reflect a deep unease about relying on US commitments under the current administration. The European Parliament will continue to monitor the situation closely, ready to trigger the suspension clause if necessary.
