EU Council approves trade agreement with US

2026-06-25 14:04:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Council of the European Union today gave final approval to the entry into force of the trade agreement between the EU and the United States of America, approving the two regulations for the implementation of the tariff commitments set out in the EU-US Joint Declaration of 21 August 2025.

The decision completes the EU's ratification process for the agreement, following its approval by the European Parliament last week. It paves the way for the agreement to enter into force before the July 4 deadline set by US President Donald Trump.

According to the EU Council announcement, the completion of the legislative procedure confirms the Union's commitment to a stable, predictable and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade relationship, while maintaining protective mechanisms for European economic interests.

The two adopted regulations provide for the removal of remaining EU customs tariffs on US industrial products, preferential access for certain US marine and agricultural products through tariff quotas and reduced tariffs, and the extension of the tariff suspension for imports of lobsters, including processed ones.

The agreement is part of a compromise reached last summer between Brussels and Washington. Under it, the EU commits to removing most tariffs on American products, while the US caps tariffs on European imports at 15%.

The document also includes a special safeguard mechanism, which allows the European Commission to intervene quickly in the event of a significant increase in imports from the US.

On the other hand, the EU reserves the right to suspend the envisaged preferences if the US side does not respect its commitments, including those related to additional tariffs on products containing steel and aluminum. The agreement will enter into force one day after the publication of the two regulations in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The main regulation will remain in force until the end of 2029. By 30 June of that year, the European Commission will present an evaluation report on its impact on EU-US trade, customs revenues and the economy in general, proposing, if necessary, the extension of its application.

Meanwhile, the regulation on lobster imports will have retroactive effect from August 1, 2025 and will remain in force until July 31, 2030.

BE-ja dhe SHBA-ja vazhdojnë të mbajnë marrëdhënien më të madhe dypalëshe tregtare dhe investuese në botë, e cila përfaqëson afërsisht 30% të tregtisë globale të mallrave dhe shërbimeve dhe 43% të Prodhimit të Brendshëm Bruto botëror. Tregtia dypalëshe e mallrave dhe shërbimeve tejkaloi 1.7 trilionë euro në vitin 2025, ndërsa investimet reciproke arritën mbi 4.8 trilionë euro në vitin 2024. /CNA