EU Lawmakers Signal Conditional Approval for Trade Deal with US, Aiming to Preserve Relationship Despite Trump Tariffs

Brussels. European Union lawmakers on Thursday signaled their conditional approval for a trade tariff agreement with US President Donald Trump, a deal Europe wishes to preserve while the EU is also racing to diversify trade relations globally.

An agreement was reached last summer between Brussels and Washington to set a 15 percent tariff on most EU goods.

President Trump's policy of imposing heavy tariffs, including on steel, aluminum, and car parts, along with additional tariffs until 2025, had compelled the 27-nation bloc, the EU, to develop trade relations worldwide.

The EU has since signed agreements from South America to Australia and is pursuing others.

This does not mean it wants to move away from its 1.6 trillion euro ($1.9 trillion) relationship with its largest trading partner, the United States.

Most EU lawmakers agreed to cut the EU's tariff increase on some US imports as the first step toward implementing the 2025 agreement.

“Today's vote is an important procedural step and a political signal that the EU is sticking to its commitments,” said Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU's economy chief, during a parliamentary debate on Thursday before the vote.

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic called the move a ‘significant step’ and stated he would meet with US Trade Representative Jamison Greers during the World Trade Organization meeting in Cameroon on Friday.

The US Ambassador to the European Union, Andrew Puzder, also welcomed the vote after its preparation.

He said on social media platform X, “Thank you for your efforts, we are close to a significant milestone in the US-EU trade relationship, which will provide transatlantic stability and economic opportunity for our businesses, workers, and consumers.”

Puzder had previously suggested the EU pass the agreement without amendments.

The US tariff agreement still requires further negotiation with EU member states before the EU can implement it, negotiations that are expected to be difficult, but EU diplomats hope they will conclude soon.