Trending Now - EU Reaches Consensus on Trade Agreement With U.S. Amid Disputes
WHO:
ABC News - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
ABC News - U.S. President Donald Trump
ABC News - Bernard Lange, head of the parliamentary trade committee
CNBC - European Commission, the EU's executive arm
WHAT:
ABC News - The EU's trade negotiator, Maroš Šefčovič, stated that the final push to approve the deal came after five hours in "an intensive night" of trilogue discussions.
ABC News - The EU's agreement includes a safeguard mechanism that allows Brussels to suspend tariff reductions if U.S. imports harm European industry.
CNBC - The provisional agreement allows the European Commission to suspend tariff preferences if the U.S. maintains a tariff rate higher than 15% on EU steel and aluminum derivatives by the end of 2026.
ABC News - The European Union approved a tariff deal with the United States to cap tariffs on most EU exports at 15%.
ABC News - The deal includes a safeguard mechanism allowing Brussels to suspend tariff reductions if U.S. imports harm European industry.
CNBC - The agreement allows the European Commission to suspend tariff preferences if the U.S. maintains a tariff rate higher than 15% on EU steel and aluminum derivatives by the end of 2026.
ABC News - The previous average tariff was 4.8%, and the new deal increases this burden on consumers and businesses.
ABC News - The American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels expressed relief at the EU reaching a consensus on the deal.
WHERE:
ABC News - Brussels, European Union
ABC News - Turnberry golf course, Scotland
WHEN:
ABC News - The deal was struck last July.
ABC News - The deadline for the U.S. to respond to the deal is July 4.
CNBC - The agreement comes almost a year after the initial trade deal was struck.
WHY:
ABC News - The EU faced fierce internal debates among its 27-nation bloc’s lawmakers and leaders, which jeopardized the trade agreement.
ABC News - The deal aims to avoid a direct clash with Trump and to provide stability in EU-U.S. trade amid global economic fragility.
ABC News - The EU faced internal debates that threatened the trade agreement, which was crucial due to the fallout from the war in Iran.
HOW:
ABC News - The trilogue agreement is seen as a sign that the EU is honoring its commitments under the deal, allowing Washington and Brussels to "move beyond tariffs" to tackle critical supply chain issues.
ABC News - The deal was reached after five hours of trilogue discussions between the European Council, European Parliament, and the European Commission.
ABC News - The EU's trade negotiator, Maroš Šefčovič, indicated that the political agreement would reinforce stability in EU-U.S. trade.
(UPDATED May 20, 2026 13:50 UTC)
The EU's trade negotiator, Maroš Šefčovič, announced that after five hours of intensive trilogue discussions, a final push led to the approval of a significant trade agreement. This provisional agreement includes a safeguard mechanism that enables Brussels to suspend tariff reductions if U.S. imports negatively impact European industry, and it allows the European Commission to halt tariff preferences if the U.S. maintains a tariff rate above 15% on EU steel and aluminum derivatives by the end of 2026. The trilogue agreement is viewed as a commitment by the EU to move beyond tariffs and address critical supply chain issues alongside Washington.
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(UPDATED May 20, 2026 11:52 UTC)
The European Union has approved a new tariff deal with the United States, capping tariffs on most EU exports at 15%, which is a significant increase from the previous average of 4.8%. This agreement includes a safeguard mechanism that allows the EU to suspend tariff reductions if U.S. imports negatively impact European industry, and it also gives the European Commission the power to suspend tariff preferences if the U.S. maintains a tariff rate higher than 15% on EU steel and aluminum derivatives by the end of 2026. The deal was reached after five hours of discussions among key European leaders and aims to provide stability in EU-U.S. trade amid ongoing global economic challenges.