European Parliament approves major US trade agreement

The European Parliament approved a major trade agreement with the United States on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, moving to implement a deal designed to stabilize a volatile transatlantic economic relationship. The vote, held in Strasbourg, passed with 440 lawmakers in favor, 151 against, and 50 abstentions.

The agreement, originally finalized in July 2025 at a meeting between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump in Scotland, aims to reset trade terms. Under the pact, the European Union will eliminate tariffs on U.S. industrial goods, including car parts, while the United States has agreed to cap tariffs on many European exports at 15 percent. The deal also removes EU duties on American lobster and agricultural products.

The parliamentary approval was the final major political hurdle, as EU member states had already endorsed the agreement. Formal implementation is expected in the coming days or weeks, pending a final procedural step by member states and publication in the EU's official journal. The vote puts the bloc on track to meet a July 4 deadline set by President Trump, who had threatened to impose much higher tariffs on European...