BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) (ITALPRESS) – Euro MPs approved their position on two legislative proposals implementing tariff aspects of the Ue-Usa trade agreement in Turnberry. According to a note from the European Parliament, texts, if agreed with EU governments, will eliminate most of US industrial goods duties and provide preferential access to the market for a wide range of US fish and agricultural products, in line with the commitments made in summer 2025 between the EU and the United States.
According to a note from the European Parliament, the two legislative acts were approved as follows: the adjustment of customs duties and the opening of tariff quotas for imports of certain goods originating in the United States was approved with 417 votes in favour and 154 against, against 71 abstentions; the non-application of customs duties on imports of certain goods was approved with 437 votes in favour and 144 against, against 60 abstentions. MEPs have strengthened the proposed suspension clause, which would allow us to suspend tariff preferences with the United States under a number of conditions. For example, the Commission could propose the total or partial suspension of trade preferences if the United States imposed additional duties above the agreed limit of 15%, or new types of duties on goods from the EU.
The clause could be activated even if the United States, for example, decided to compromise the objectives of the agreement, discriminate against EU economic operators, threaten the territorial integrity of Member States or their foreign and defence policies, or resort to economic coercion. MEPs then introduced a “income clause” (sunrise clause), which provides that new trade preferences enter into force only if the United States respects their commitments. These commitments include the US reduction of EU product duties with steel and aluminium content of less than 50%, up to 15%. In addition, for EU products with steel and aluminium content of more than 50%, where the United States does not reduce their duties to a maximum of 15%, EU tariff preferences for US steel, aluminium and derived products would cease to apply six months after the entry into force of the Regulation.
MEPs also agreed on an expiry date for the main regulation, set at 31 March 2028. This period may be extended only through a new legislative proposal, to be submitted as a result of an in-depth assessment of the effects of the regulation. The Commission will be responsible for monitoring the impact of the new rules and may temporarily suspend new duties if imports from the United States reach such levels as to cause serious damage to the EU industry, for example in the event of an increase of 10% of imports from a certain group of products.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
