EU-US trade deal: EU Parliament sets conditions for lowering tariffs on US products

26 March 2026 – Today the European Parliament voted positively on the implementing legislation for the EU-US trade agreement. This is not yet the final ratification of the agreement; after the Parliament's vote, it must still pass through trilogue negotiations, that is, tripartite negotiations between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. Therefore, the agreement is unlikely to be implemented on the EU side before April-May.

This is an important decision for SMEs. The United States is a key export market for EU companies, so the progress of the agreement has direct economic significance. A positive voting result enables the advancement of the agreement and reduces uncertainty for businesses. 

The Parliament's vote is also an important signal of the EU's ability to act as a reliable trade partner and to honour agreements made. 

There has been a slowdown in trade between the EU and the US at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. It is important that the trade relationship does not deteriorate or remain in a state of permanent uncertainty.

The Turnberry agreement has been criticised for being imbalanced, as the United States gains access to the EU market with low or non-existent tariffs, while EU exports to the United States face tariffs of around 15%. However, the overall picture is broader: European companies also benefit from cheaper imported inputs and components. The agreement should not be assessed only from the perspective of exports, but as part of value chains.

If the agreement cannot be implemented, the risk of tariff escalation increases significantly. This positive vote by the EU Parliament supports a more predictable operating environment and gives businesses better conditions to plan investments.

For companies, stable tariff levels, even if higher, are often more manageable than a situation where there is constant uncertainty regarding tariffs.

The political risk in the United States remains high, and the implementation of the agreement is not yet fully confirmed. For this reason, it is justified that the EU ties its own concessions to the United States fulfilling its commitments.

By Mira Maria Danisman, President of the EESC International Trade follow-up Committee