STRASBOURG, France — The European Parliament has approved trade legislation implementing key tariff commitments between the European Union and the United States, a move that comes days after leaders discussed trade and economic security issues at the Group of Seven summit in France and amid continued efforts to avoid a broader transatlantic tariff dispute.
Lawmakers voted on June 16 to endorse two legislative measures that translate commitments made under the 2025 EU-U.S. trade framework into EU law, according to the European Parliament and European Commission. The legislation removes most EU tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and extends preferential treatment for certain agricultural and seafood imports, while incorporating safeguard mechanisms sought by lawmakers during negotiations.
The vote followed discussions among G7 leaders in Évian-les-Bains, where economic resilience, trade stability and supply-chain security featured prominently on the summit agenda, according to officials and diplomatic sources. G7 members also discussed reducing vulnerabilities in critical mineral supply chains and addressing broader trade imbalances.
The European Parliament said the legislation includes a sunset clause under which the tariff preferences would expire at the end of 2029 unless renewed. The measures also allow the European Commission to suspend concessions if the United States fails to uphold elements of the agreement or maintains tariff levels above agreed thresholds on certain steel and aluminum derivative products.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU intends to honor commitments reached with Washington while preserving tools to protect European industries. The agreement stems from negotiations concluded in 2025 between the Commission and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Supporters of the legislation said it provides greater certainty for businesses after a period of tariff disputes and negotiations. Industry groups, including representatives of German manufacturers, welcomed the vote, arguing that predictable trade rules are important for investment and exports.
Some lawmakers and advocacy groups opposed the measures, saying the agreement leaves European exports facing higher U.S. tariffs than those applied by the EU to American goods. Critics also questioned whether future U.S. trade policy could alter the balance of the arrangement.
“The aim must be to build new momentum in trans-Atlantic trade,” Wolfgang Niedermark of the German industry federation BDI said after the vote, according to published remarks.
The legislation now requires formal approval by EU member states before entering into force. European officials said implementation will be monitored regularly, with the Commission required to report on trade flows and the impact of the measures on EU industries.
