Finance
After Delays, EU Lawmakers Move Closer to Vote on US Trade Deal
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 17, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 17, 2026
Quick Summary
EU lawmakers appear set to vote this week on bills implementing the EU‑US trade deal—following earlier suspensions over doubts about U.S. compliance—after adding conditions like a “sunrise clause” tying duty cuts to U.S. fulfillment of its commitments.
EU Lawmakers Set to Advance Key Vote on Delayed EU-US Trade Deal Legislation
Progress and Challenges in the EU-US Trade Deal Legislation
By Philip Blenkinsop
Background on the EU-US Trade Deal
BRUSSELS, March 17 (Reuters) - EU lawmakers look set to vote this week on legislation to enact parts of the EU‑U.S. trade deal after twice suspending their work because they did not believe the United States was sticking to its side of the agreement.
Key Proposals Under Debate
The European Parliament has been debating proposals to remove EU import duties on U.S. industrial goods and improve access for U.S. agricultural produce, a key part of the deal struck in Scotland last July, as well as to continue zero duties for U.S. lobsters, initially agreed with Trump in 2020. The proposals require approval by the parliament and EU governments.
Upcoming Votes and Legislative Steps
A small group of lawmakers will decide on Tuesday whether to proceed to a vote, and EU officials said they were likely to back advancing the legislation. That would pave the way for parliament's trade committee to vote on Thursday, a necessary step towards approval of the deal.
Concerns Over Deal Imbalance
Many lawmakers have said the trade deal is lopsided, with the EU required to cut most import duties while the U.S. sticks to a broad rate of 15%. However, they had previously appeared willing to accept it, albeit with conditions, such as an 18-month sunset clause and measures to respond to possible surges in U.S. imports.
New Amendments: Sunrise and Sunset Clauses
Now the lawmakers have added a further amendment to introduce a "sunrise clause" to make EU import duty reductions conditional on Washington fulfilling its side of the bargain. Two EU officials said on Tuesday that this looked likely to have broken the deadlock.
Next Steps in the Legislative Process
After the lawmakers' vote, representatives of the European Parliament and of EU governments will still have to negotiate a common text, meaning the legislation will not be passed until at least April.
Previous Voting Suspensions
The trade committee suspended a vote in January in protest at Trump's demands to acquire Greenland and his subsequent threats to impose tariffs on European allies who opposed him.
Impact of US Import Surcharges
A vote in February was also paused after Washington imposed a blanket 10% import surcharge, which has increased the overall charge due on some EU exports to the United States.
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Key Takeaways
- •Legislative work on removing EU import duties and extending zero tariffs on U.S. lobster is resuming after prior halts due to U.S. tariff uncertainty and Capitol Hill developments
- •Lawmakers negotiated new safeguards—including a sunrise clause and earlier sunset clause expiring in March 2028—to ensure U.S. compliance before tariff reductions take effect
- •If the Tuesday approval goes ahead, committee-level votes could follow Thursday, but full enactment still requires agreement with EU governments, likely stretching into April
Frequently Asked Questions about After delays, EU lawmakers move closer to vote on US trade deal
1Why was the EU-US trade deal vote delayed?
EU lawmakers delayed the vote twice over concerns that the United States was not fulfilling its part of the agreement.
2What changes are included in the proposed EU-US trade deal?
The proposals include removing EU import duties on US industrial goods, improving access for US agricultural produce, and maintaining zero duties on US lobsters.
3What conditions have EU lawmakers added to the trade deal?
Lawmakers proposed a 'sunrise clause' making duty reductions conditional on the US fulfilling its commitments and an 18-month sunset clause.
4What are the next steps for the EU-US trade deal approval?
A small group of lawmakers will decide whether to advance the legislation to a trade committee vote, followed by negotiations with EU governments.
5When is the EU-US trade deal legislation expected to be finalized?
The legislation is not expected to be passed until at least April, after further negotiations between the European Parliament and EU governments.
