EU and US Kiss Tariffs Goodbye (Mostly)
In what might be the most amicable breakup since your favorite sitcom couple, European lawmakers are set to wave goodbye to most tariffs on goods crossing the Atlantic. On Tuesday, MEPs will rubber-stamp two pieces of legislation that essentially tell customs duties to take a hike—at least when it comes to most industrial and agricultural products from the United States.
This cozy arrangement stems from an August 2025 joint statement where the EU and US apparently decided that charging each other extra for stuff was so last decade. Parliament and Council negotiators have already shaken hands on the deal, though they did manage to beef up the Commission’s original proposal with “several elements” (bureaucrat-speak for “we added some things”).
To celebrate this tariff-slashing extravaganza, Bernd Lange—the International Trade Committee Chair who’s basically the EU’s point person for all things American trade—will host a press conference on Tuesday at 14:00 CET in Strasbourg. Think of it as a victory lap, but with more PowerPoint presentations.
The festivities don’t stop there. Following the presser, there’s a media seminar diving into the thrilling world of EU trade agreements, covering everything from protecting Europe’s economy to the Mercosur deal. It’s like a trade policy buffet, and everyone’s invited.
For journalists who can’t make it in person, there’s remote access via Interactio—though you’ll need the right browser and device combo, because apparently even digital attendance has a dress code. The event will be streamed live with interpretation in English, French, German, and Spanish, ensuring everyone can understand exactly how these tariffs are getting the boot.