The European Parliament has supported the removal of tariffs on goods from the United States.
The European Parliament has supported the advancement of legislation that would eliminate EU import duties on industrial goods from the United States and expand access for American agricultural products to the European market. A final decision is expected in the spring following negotiations with the governments of EU member states.
Lex
On Thursday, the European Parliament supported the advancement of legislation aimed at fulfilling the European Union's commitments under its trade agreement with the United States. The initiative was backed by 417 deputies, with 154 voting against and 71 abstaining.
The document provides for the removal of EU import duties on industrial goods from the US, as well as expanded access for American agricultural products to the European market. These measures are key elements of the agreement reached in Turnberry, Scotland, in July of last year. In addition, the duty-free regime for American lobsters, first introduced in 2020, will remain in place.
The legislation includes safeguard provisions reflecting concerns about the United States' compliance with the terms of the deal, especially amid uncertainty over tariff policies and the potential introduction of new import duties.
Thursday's vote does not conclude the legislative process. Representatives of the European Parliament and the governments of EU member states will hold negotiations on the final text of the document. The final vote on approval is expected to take place in April or May.