Approval by EU Countries of the Trade Agreement with the United States (June 2026)

The member states of the European Union (EU) officially approved on 25 June 2026 the legal measures necessary to implement the trade agreement reached with the United States of America (USA) in 2025. With the adoption of these measures, the EU has put into effect its tariff commitments under the agreement, thereby completing the EU’s legislative process for the entry into force of the deal.

Negotiations for the new trade agreement between the EU and the USA were concluded following talks held throughout 2025. The final agreement was reached during discussions held in July 2025 in the Turnberry region of Scotland.

The agreement aims to resolve customs tariffs and trade tensions that have periodically surfaced in recent years, make transatlantic trade relations more predictable and strengthen economic cooperation. Under the agreement, the European Union agreed to eliminate customs duties on many products originating from the USA, while the USA has continued to apply a 15 percent customs tariff on products from the European Union.

On 25 June 2026, the EU Council announced the formal adoption of two separate legislative proposals by the member states’ permanent representatives concerning the implementation of the trade agreement with the USA. This completed the final stage of the legislative process, following the European Parliament’s approval one week earlier.

The EU Council’s statement emphasized that the adopted measures reaffirm the European Union’s commitment to stable, predictable and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade relations. It was also stated that the measures include various safeguard mechanisms designed to protect the economic interests of the European Union. The measures are expected to enter into force after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Under the approved measures, the European Union has agreed to eliminate customs duties on industrial products imported from the USA. In addition, preferential access has been granted to a wide range of US agricultural and seafood products in the European market.

The agreement also extends the customs duty exemption for lobster products imported from the USA, which was introduced during Donald Trump’s first term as president.

This trade arrangement establishes a broad framework covering not only industrial products but also specific agricultural and fisheries products.

The legal measures adopted by the EU encompass not only commercial concessions but also various safeguard mechanisms designed to protect the economic interests of the European Union.

Under the measures, the European Union is granted the authority to suspend the trade concessions under the agreement and reinstate customs duties if the USA fails to comply with its obligations or breaches the terms of the agreement. This transforms the agreement from a framework of unilateral commitments into one based on mutual obligations.

The adopted trade measures are expected to remain in force until the end of 2029. After this period, the parties may choose to extend the agreement, amend it, or negotiate a new trade framework.

With the approval of the EU member states, the European Union has formally fulfilled its obligations under the trade agreement with the USA. This eliminates the possibility of new customs tariffs being imposed between the parties and aims to prevent the recurrence of trade tensions that have periodically emerged in recent years.

With the completion of its legal process, the EU has finalized the implementation phase of the agreement. The measures are expected to enter into force after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This step marks one of the foundational milestones in establishing the current legal framework for transatlantic trade relations between the EU and the USA.