International leaders gathered at the Group of Seven summitt at Evian-les-Bains, France, Tuesday. The European Union agreed to the trade deal that was ironed out last summer by President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo by Yoan Valat.
June 16 (UPI) — The European Parliament approved the European Union’s trade deal with President Donald Trump almost a year after it was agreed to at Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland.
Lawmakers voted by 440-151 to approve the deal with 50 abstentions. The plan would remove tariffs on U.S. agricultural products, car parts and lobster. For that, Trump agreed to cut tariffs on many European countries’ exports and cap most at 15%.
Because it took so long to pass, Trump had threatened “much higher” tariffs if the deal weren’t passed by July 4.
“With this milestone, we are days away from fulfilling our commitment to remove tariffs on imports of U.S. industrial goods,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, posted on X after the vote.
Member countries must still ratify the agreement before it can go into effect.
Voting was delayed after Trump threatened to invade Greenland and when Trump’s original tariff plan under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act of 1977 was struck down by the Supreme Court.
If the United States doesn’t follow the deal, it can be suspended. Other parts will end after 2029 if they aren’t renewed, The New York Times reported.
Trump and other national leaders are gathering this week in Évian-les-Bains, France, for the Group of 7 meeting.
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