Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 26, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleThe European Parliament voted 417-154 (71 abstentions) on March 26 to advance legislation aligning with the EU’s side of the US trade deal agreed at Turnberry in July 2025, adding safeguards amid uncertainty over Washington’s commitments. Safeguards include sunset and suspension clauses and mechanis
By Philip Blenkinsop
BRUSSELS, March 26 (Reuters) - European Union lawmakers advanced legislation on Thursday to fulfil the European Union's side of its trade agreement with the United States, after months of uncertainty over President Donald Trump's tariff threats and new import levy.
The EU assembly voted by 417 to 154 and 71 abstentions in favour of the legislation although with added safeguards, reflecting concerns that the Washington may not stick to the deal struck in Turnberry, Scotland, last July.
The safeguards include sunrise, sunset and suspension clauses and lawmakers insist the U.S. remove 50% duties imposed a month after the Turnberry deal on the steel and aluminium content of products such as wind turbines and motorcycles.
European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic called the vote a "crucial step", delivering certainty for EU businesses.
The U.S. Mission to the EU said it welcomed the vote.
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, as well as to continue zero duties for U.S. lobsters, initially agreed with Trump in 2020.
Parliament's vote on Thursday is not the end of the process. Representatives of parliament and EU governments will negotiate final texts before a final vote of approval by EU lawmakers not expected before April or May.
PARLIAMENTARIANS' CONCERNS
The U.S. is the EU's largest trading partner, with EU exports to the U.S. rising to a record 555 billion euros ($641.47 billion) in 2025.
In a debate before the vote, many parliamentarians said the trade deal was lopsided, with the EU required to cut most import duties while the U.S. sticks to a broad rate of 15%.
Bernd Lange, the chair of the parliament's trade committee, said it was not really an agreement at all. Belgian Social Democrat Kathleen Van Brempt called it a bad deal.
"It does not bring stability. It does not protect us from tariffs, threats and coercion," she said.
The EU assembly had been due to vote on the legislation at the start of the year, but halted work after Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on European allies that did not back his proposed acquisition of Greenland and then launched an import surcharge.
The added safeguards include a sunrise clause to make EU import duty reductions conditional on Washington honouring its side of the bargain, a sunset clause under which the tariff concessions expire on March 31, 2028, and a clause to suspend the deal if Washington breaches the terms of the deal or if there is a damaging surge of U.S. imports.
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Editing by Inti Landauro and Timothy Heritage)
The European Parliament advanced legislation to fulfill the EU's side of its trade agreement with the United States, adding multiple safeguards.
The safeguards reflect concerns that Washington may not adhere to the deal and address tariff threats and import levies.
The agreement includes removal of import duties on US industrial goods, improved access for US agricultural produce, and continued zero duties for US lobsters.
No, representatives of parliament and EU governments must negotiate final texts before a final approval vote expected in April or May.
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