Europe Union Lawmakers Approve Much-Delayed Trade Deal With U.S.


The European Parliament approved a major part of the trade deal that it settled on with the United States last summer at President Trump’s golf course in Turnberry, Scotland — nearly a year after the agreement was struck.

European Union lawmakers agreed to cut tariffs to zero on American industrial goods, including machinery and car parts, and on lobster. It will also reduce levies on some American agricultural products. In exchange, tariffs on many European goods exported to the United States should remain taxed around 15 percent (but sometimes more).

The decision ran up against the clock. Mr. Trump, frustrated with Europe’s slow progress toward agreeing to the deal, had threatened “much higher” tariffs on European products if it wasn’t finalized by July 4.

“With this milestone, we are days away from fulfilling our commitment to remove tariffs on imports of US industrial goods,” Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, posted on social media after the vote.

European Union member states still need to rubber-stamp the agreement before it is officially complete. But Tuesday’s vote should effectively finish what has been a long and sometimes fraught process.

Earlier votes on the deal were postponed, first over Mr. Trump’s threats to annex Greenland, and later after the Supreme Court ruled that many of Mr. Trump’s tariffs were illegal.

Even once progress resumed, bumps continued. In an interview with The New York Post published on Monday, Mr. Trump threatened 100 percent tariffs on French wine and Champagne over digital taxes.

Parts of the deal can be suspended if the United States does not hold up its end of the bargain, as a way to give the European Union both a sort of escape hatch and some remaining leverage. Other parts will sunset after 2029 if they are not renewed.

The news came as European Union and national leaders gathered in Évian-les-Bains, France, alongside Mr. Trump for a Group of 7 meeting.



Source link

  • Related Posts

    Fulfilling earlier US-China agreements is a work in progress as Trump and Xi meet again

    BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. and China have made uneven progress in fulfilling the trade commitments announced after their two leaders met in Beijing in May. As U.S. President Donald…

    Continue reading

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    These Drones Could Cover Up To 98 Percent Of The World’s Oceans By 2028

    These Drones Could Cover Up To 98 Percent Of The World’s Oceans By 2028

    No criminal charges in the death of Nolan Wells: Grand jury report

    No criminal charges in the death of Nolan Wells: Grand jury report

    Air Canada Is Launching 11 Major New Nonstop Long-Haul Routes: See List & Map Now

    Air Canada Is Launching 11 Major New Nonstop Long-Haul Routes: See List & Map Now

    Fulfilling earlier US-China agreements is a work in progress as Trump and Xi meet again

    Fulfilling earlier US-China agreements is a work in progress as Trump and Xi meet again

    Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Sept. 22, #729

    Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Sept. 22, #729

    Darren Lehmann: Northamptonshire boss left frustrated after draw with Derbyshire

    Darren Lehmann: Northamptonshire boss left frustrated after draw with Derbyshire