European Parliament approves US trade deal to lower tariffs

The European Parliament has approved cutting tariffs on many US imports to comply with a deal signed last year. US President Trump had given the bloc a July 4 deadline to meet its side of the deal.

The European Parliament has approved a deal struck last year under which the EU agreed to remove import duties and ease access for several kinds of US goods.

Approving the deal, which foresees tariffs of 15% on imports of EU goods to the US, could avert another round of tariff conflict between Brussels and Washington.

"Under considerable pressure, we secured important guardrails to keep European interests on track," said the chair of the parliament's trade committee, Bernd Lange.

"One thing is certain: we will stay on it and keep a close watch on the implementation," he said. 

More to follow.