Key facts
- The European Parliament approved legislation for a tariff deal with the United States.
- The deal sets EU product levies at 15%.
- The agreement aims to defuse trade tensions.
- EU lawmakers endorsed a trade deal with the U.S. to cut import duties on American industrial goods.
- The move seeks to avert threatened tariffs from President Donald Trump.
- President Donald Trump had set a July 4 deadline.
- The European Parliament voted to lift the immunity of Italian lawmaker Fulvio Martusciello.
- Belgian authorities will investigate bribery allegations involving Huawei.
- Fulvio Martusciello denies wrongdoing and claims loan repayments were mistaken for bribes.
- A poll shows Swiss voters favor closer EU ties.
- The poll follows a referendum that raised concerns about EU-Swiss relations.
The European Parliament has given final approval to legislation that implements a tariff deal negotiated with the United States. This agreement establishes import duties on most EU products at a rate of 15%, with the stated aim of defusing ongoing trade tensions between the two entities. The legislative move by the EU Parliament comes amid ongoing trade disputes and potential tariff threats from President Donald Trump, who had previously set a July 4 deadline for such actions. European Union lawmakers have endorsed this trade deal with the U.S., which includes an agreement to reduce import duties on American industrial goods. This decision is intended to avert threatened tariffs from President Trump.
In a separate development, the European Parliament has voted to lift the immunity of Italian lawmaker Fulvio Martusciello. This action permits Belgian authorities to proceed with an investigation into bribery allegations that implicate the Chinese technology firm Huawei. Martusciello has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that his actions were misinterpreted, and claims that loan repayments were mistakenly perceived as bribes.
Furthermore, a recent poll suggests a shift in sentiment among Swiss voters, indicating a greater inclination to support closer ties with the European Union. This trend follows a referendum that had previously generated concerns regarding the future trajectory of the relationship between Switzerland and the EU.