The EU has agreed on measures to reduce import tariffs on goods from the United States in order to avoid the risk of the US imposing further tariffs on automobiles and industrial goods from Europe, while also adding conditions to prevent the US from violating the agreement in the future.
On May 27, 2026, at 4:01 PM, Reuters reported that European Union (EU) member state governments approved a bill on Wednesday to eliminate tariffs on several items from the United States. This is a significant move that could help avoid President Donald Trump's threat to impose further tariffs on European goods, particularly automobiles and other industrial products.
Sources from the EU attending the meeting revealed that the measures were part of a trade agreement reached by both sides at Trump's Turnberry Golf Course in Scotland last July.
Under the agreement, the EU agreed to eliminate tariffs on industrial goods from the US, and to allow greater access to US agricultural products and seafood in European markets. Meanwhile, Europe accepted the US tariff of 15% on most goods from the EU.
However, even after more than 10 months, the EU has not yet implemented concrete measures according to the agreement, leading Trump to warn that he would impose much higher tariffs on European goods if the EU does not fulfill its obligations by July 4, 2569.
Recently, ambassadors from all 27 EU member states approved the draft law related to import tariff reductions, after representatives from member state governments and the European Parliament agreed on the details of the legislation last week.
Meanwhile, the EU also added several safeguards to the agreement to deal with the possibility that the Trump administration would not comply with the trade agreement.
However, the bill still needs approval from the European Parliament. The Parliament's Commerce Committee is scheduled to hold a preliminary vote next week, before a full vote in mid-June.
The safeguards pushed by European lawmakers include a condition that the trade agreement must expire by the end of 2572, and the power to allow the European Commission to suspend parts of the agreement if the United States does not reduce tariffs on certain goods to the agreed-upon 15%.
Products in question include washing machines, wind turbines, and other goods with a high iron or aluminum content, which are currently subject to a 25% tariff by the United States.
Reference: www.reuters.com
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