E.U. Approves Tariff Cuts in Deal With U.S.

The European Union and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement early Wednesday on two regulations that will put into effect tariff cuts promised in the joint declaration between the European Union and the United States, moving ahead with a deal that has been under pressure from Washington.

The first regulation removes the remaining customs duties on U.S. industrial goods and gives preferential access to the European market for certain seafood and non-sensitive agricultural products from the United States, including through tariff-rate quotas and lower duties, according to a statement from the Council presidency, which is held by Cyprus and is also leading the talks.

The second regulation extends the suspension of tariffs on lobster imports, including processed lobster. The move is part of the broader trade understanding reached by the European Union and the United States on Aug. 21, 2025, under which the bloc agreed to eliminate duties on a wide range of American products and grant preferential access to several farm goods entering the European market.

In return, the United States has imposed 15% tariffs on a large number of European products. The agreement is meant to support a stable and predictable trade relationship while preserving safeguards and flexibility, the Council said.

The deal also aims to provide a platform for further negotiations with Washington, with the goal of reducing tariffs further and strengthening cooperation on shared challenges. To make sure the joint declaration is carried out effectively and to protect European interests, lawmakers agreed to reinforce the main regulation with a stronger safeguard mechanism, tougher suspension rules and an expiration clause.

That safeguard would allow the European Union to respond if imports from the United States rise in a way that causes or threatens serious harm to European producers. The agreement also strengthens the conditions under which the European Commission could suspend all or part of the regulation through implementing acts if Washington fails to honor its commitments, undermines the deal’s goals or changes trade and investment relations with the bloc.

The breakthrough comes after President Donald Trump accused Brussels of delaying implementation of the agreement and threatened to impose a 25% tariff on European vehicles if it did not take effect before July 4, Independence Day in the United States, which marks its 250th anniversary this year.