The European Parliament is moving toward approving the tariff agreement with the United States.

The European Parliament is set to approve the tariff agreement reached between the European Union and the United States this Tuesday, representing the final major political step toward implementing a trade pact aimed at reducing tensions between both partners and avoiding new protectionist measures from Washington. The agreement was finalized last July between Brussels and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The understanding establishes 15% tariffs for most products exported by the European Union to the American market, while the European bloc agreed to apply zero tariffs to goods coming from the United States. Although the governments of the Member States have already endorsed the text, the vote in the Eurochamber constitutes the last relevant political instance before its implementation. Approval would also allow the European Union to meet the deadline set by Trump for July 4th and reduce the risk of new tariffs on European vehicles. The main political forces in the European Parliament anticipated their support for the agreement. Among them is the European People's Party (EPP), the largest group in the chamber and to which the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, belongs. Following the parliamentary vote, the pact will still require some formal procedures, including final ratification by the Member States and its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union before entering into force. During the parliamentary negotiation, MEPs incorporated several protection clauses intended to strengthen the European position. One of them sets an expiration date for the agreement at the end of 202 the European Parliament is set to approve the tariff agreement reached between the European Union and the United States this Tuesday, representing the final major political step toward implementing a trade pact aimed at reducing tensions between both partners and avoiding new protectionist measures from Washington. The agreement was finalized last July between Brussels and the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. The understanding establishes 15% tariffs for most products exported by the European Union to the American market, while the European bloc agreed to apply zero tariffs to goods coming from the United States. Although the governments of the Member States have already endorsed the text, the vote in the Eurochamber constitutes the last relevant political instance before its implementation. Approval would also allow the European Union to meet the deadline set by Trump for July 4th and reduce the risk of new tariffs on European vehicles. The main political forces in the European Parliament anticipated their support for the agreement. Among them is the European People's Party (EPP), the largest group in the chamber and to which the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, belongs. Following the parliamentary vote, the pact will still require some formal procedures, including final ratification by the Member and its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union before entering into force. Although the governments of the Member States have already endorsed the text, the vote in the Eurochamber constitutes the last relevant political instance before its implementation (EP). During the parliamentary negotiation, MEPs incorporated several protection clauses intended to strengthen the European position. One of them sets an expiration date for the agreement at the end of 2029, unless both parties decide to renew it. Another provision grants the European Commission the power to suspend the pact if the United States fails to meet its commitments or adopts measures that significantly alter trade and investment between both economies. The Chair of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament, Bernd Lange, highlighted the position adopted by the institution during the text review process. “The European Parliament made it very clear that we will truly not accept any agreement from the United States without defending our European interests,” Lange stated last week. For his part, Social Democrat MEP Brando Benifei argued that Brussels must act with greater firmness toward Washington. According to him, the European Union needs to “stop being weak” and “be firm” in its relations with the United States, after the Parliament introduced changes to strengthen the bloc's capacity for action. The agreement comes after a period of intense trade tensions. After returning to the White House last year, Trump pushed a broad tariff policy that affected various sectors, including steel, aluminum, and the automotive industry. Social Democrat MEP Brando Benifeito argued that Brussels must act with greater firmness toward Washington. In the face of this scenario, Von der Leyen promoted negotiations with Washington to reach an understanding that would limit the impact of trade measures and preserve an economic relationship considered strategic for both parties. Trade exchange between the European Union and the United States is around two trillion dollars. Within the EPP, several leaders maintain that the approval of the agreement will provide predictability to European companies after a period marked by uncertainty. The International Trade spokesperson for the group, Jorgen Warborn, stated that the pact “remains the most viable option on the table and the best available outcome for European Union companies.” Similarly, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, located on the right of the political spectrum, announced it will support the initiative. The spokesperson for that group, Michael Strauss, noted that “in a moment of global uncertainty, keeping the transatlantic economy stable is simply a good thing