EU lawmakers approve long-delayed U.S. trade deal

The European Parliament has approved a long-delayed EU-U.S. trade deal, clearing a major ratification hurdle for an agreement designed to reduce the risk of a renewed tariff fight across the Atlantic.

Lawmakers backed the pact by 440 votes to 151, with 50 abstentions, according to reporting on the session. The deal now still needs final approval from EU member states before it can take full effect.

The vote came after months of delay over a politically sensitive file that has divided lawmakers inside the bloc. Reporting says the agreement was originally negotiated last year, then held up by internal EU debate and broader concerns about how much it would concede to Washington.

What the deal changes

The agreement caps U.S. tariffs on most EU exports at 15% and removes EU tariffs on most U.S. industrial goods and other imports. In practical terms, it gives businesses a clearer framework for transatlantic trade after a period of tariff threats and uncertainty.

The pact also includes a sunset clause running through the end of 2029 unless it is renewed. That means the arrangement is not open-ended, even if it is eventually implemented in full.

The EU has also kept a mechanism that could allow it to suspend concessions if U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs remain elevated. That leaves one of the most politically sensitive parts of the transatlantic trade relationship unresolved.

Why the vote matters

The Parliament’s approval is an important step for a deal meant to steady trade ties between two of the world’s largest economic blocs. The arrangement is especially relevant for autos, steel, aluminum and other goods that have repeatedly become flashpoints in broader trade disputes.

Supporters argue the deal could help shield EU exporters from another escalation, especially for car shipments and other sectors exposed to tariff pressure. Critics inside the bloc have argued that the terms tilt too far toward the U.S. side, which helped make the ratification process politically difficult.

Trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has been one of the central negotiators on the file, while Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and MEP Bernd Lange have also been closely associated with the wider debate around the agreement.

What happens next

The immediate next step is approval by EU member states. If that happens, the deal would move closer to implementation, but it would still sit against a backdrop of unresolved tensions over steel and aluminum duties.

Reporting suggests the Commission may still have to decide whether to suspend concessions if the U.S. keeps those metals tariffs in place. That makes the agreement a step toward stability, but not a complete resolution of transatlantic trade tensions.

The deal also comes with a broader political warning: even after Parliament’s approval, renewed tariff threats could still disrupt implementation. For now, though, the vote removes a major obstacle and keeps the accord alive.