EU approves trade deal with the US despite uncertainty in transatlantic relations

Published connected 20/05/2026 - 2:31 GMT+2•Updated 2:36

Diplomats and MEPs reached an statement precocious connected Tuesday to instrumentality the contentious EU-US agreement, which eliminates duties connected astir US concern goods imported into Europe.

The negotiations concluded 2 weeks aft US President Donald Trump threatened to enforce 25% tariffs connected EU cars if Europeans did not instrumentality the statement — clinched by Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen successful Turnberry, Scotland, past summertime — by 4 July.

The alleged "Turnberry Agreement," criticised by MEPs arsenic unbalanced, raises US tariffs connected EU goods to arsenic overmuch arsenic 15%.

“The EU and the United States stock the world’s largest and astir integrated economical relationship. Maintaining a stable, predictable and balanced transatlantic concern is successful the involvement of some sides," Cyprus commercialized Minister Michael Damianos said, adding: "Today, the European Union delivers connected its commitments."

MEPs had kept the woody frozen for respective weeks pursuing Trump’s threats implicit Greenland earlier this year. They besides suspended it aft the US adopted caller tariffs pursuing a Supreme Court ruling that declared amerciable the tariffs imposed by the White House since Trump’s instrumentality to power.

Demanding clarity from the Americans, EU lawmakers yet agreed to participate into negotiations with the EU Cyprus presidency — representing EU subordinate states — aft the Commission assured them that the US would honour its broadside of the statement and headdress its tariffs astatine 15%, arsenic agreed.

Fragile EU-US relations

However, EU-US relations stay fragile and determination is interest successful Brussels that the US medication could inactive usage tariffs to enactment governmental unit connected the EU if the bloc does not comply with the White House’s demands connected different issues.

Trump’s threats implicit EU cars 2 weeks agone besides targeted Germany, whose Chancellor Friedrich Merz has criticised the warfare successful Iran launched by the Americans alongside Israel.

Trump has repeatedly called connected European countries to deploy ships to assistance unafraid the Strait of Hormuz, a determination Europeans person been reluctant to make.

Many disagreements besides proceed to strain EU–US relations implicit Ukraine — including the caller US hold of a sanctions waiver allowing purchases of Russian lipid — and implicit NATO, which Trump has repeatedly threatened to leave.

On Tuesday night, MEPs tried to unafraid the woody by attaching conditions, risking US choler with further provisions to which Washington had not agreed.

Under the Turnberry Agreement, the EU besides committed to investing $600 cardinal crossed strategical sectors successful the United States done 2028 and to purchasing $750 cardinal worthy of US energy.