The European Parliament’s Trade Committee has approved the revised transatlantic trade arrangement, moving the pact a step closer to full adoption. The decision came only days after EU negotiators settled the remaining points of disagreement, reflecting growing urgency on both sides of the Atlantic.
The outcome had been widely anticipated after Bernd Lange, who chairs the committee, signaled his backing for the agreement. A vote by the full European Parliament is scheduled for 16 June, and final approval from EU member states is expected to follow soon after.
Pressure Builds Around the Implementation Timeline
The European Union is working under a narrow window to finalize the agreement. Donald Trump has warned that new tariffs could be imposed on the bloc if the deal is not approved by 4 July, increasing the pressure to complete the ratification process without further delay.
Although the agreement was first signed last summer, the EU paused its approval procedure twice. One suspension was linked to Trump’s threats concerning Greenland, while another followed a ruling by a US court that struck down the president’s global tariff measures. These interruptions added strain to an already sensitive relationship between the EU and the United States, with tensions also shaped by disagreement over the Iran conflict.
What the Revised Agreement Includes
Under the terms of the deal, the EU would remove tariffs on industrial goods originating from the United States. In return, EU exports would face a tariff ceiling of 15 per cent. Trump had previously warned that failure to bring the agreement into force by the stated deadline would trigger a rise in tariffs on European cars to 25 per cent.
The final EU version makes limited adjustments to the original text. It extends the effective deadline to the end of 2029 and gives the bloc the right to suspend the arrangement if customs duties on products containing steel and aluminium rise above 15 per cent after 2026. This clause is intended to protect the EU if future tariff pressures re-emerge.
