European Parliament gives conditional approval to EU-US trade deal

EUROPE: The European Parliament has backed legislation to implement an EU-US trade deal, following months of uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

A majority of lawmakers voted in favour of the measures on Thursday, but added a series of safeguards to ensure the US honours its side of the deal struck last July.

The legislation would set tariffs at 15% for most EU goods – down from the 30% initially threatened – in exchange for European investment in the US and the removal of EU import duties on US industrial goods.

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The vote comes after months of delay following Trump’s threats to annex Greenland and a US Supreme Court ruling that found some of his tariffs unlawful.

The EU assembly voted by 417 to 154, and 71 abstentions, in favour of the legislation.