Political groups in the European Parliament reached agreement on the EU-US trade deal originally struck in July 2025 between President Trump and Commission President von der Leyen. The deal sets US tariffs at 15% on EU exports, while the EU committed to cutting tariffs on American goods to zero.
Approval had stalled in January after Trump threatened additional tariffs on eight European countries over a military mission in the Arctic linked to the Greenland dispute. Negotiations resumed weeks later with MEPs insisting on stronger safeguards.
The Parliament's version now includes three key protections: a sunset clause expiring at the end of March 2028 unless renewed; a suspension clause triggered if the US violates the deal's terms; and a territorial sovereignty criterion added after the Greenland confrontation. There is also a safeguard mechanism to protect the EU market from any negative impact of reduced tariffs on US goods.
Critically, tariffs will automatically be reinstated if the US does not follow through on reducing duties to 15% on more than 400 steel-related products — a reduction agreed in July but not yet implemented. The formal committee vote is scheduled for February 24, with a plenary vote possible as early as March.