Published on
11/02/2026 – 7:00 GMT+1

Political groups of the European Parliament reached an agreement on Tuesday on the EU-US trade deal, which was struck in July 2025 by US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and still needs to be ratified.

The agreement sets US tariffs at 15% on EU exports, while the EU committed to cutting its tariffs on US goods to zero, but its approval has proven controversial in recent weeks due to Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland.

The Parliament froze the approval process in January after Trump said on social media that he would impose a 10% tariff from February on eight European countries for having taken part in a military mission in the Arctic.

Works resumed a few weeks later, with representatives of the Parliament’s political groups fine-tuning the details of the legislation needed to implement the deal.

The final compromise they have reached will be formally voted on by the International Partnership Committee on February 24 and by a Plenary session as early as March.

It includes a “sunset clause”, which would see EU tariff relief expire at the end of March 2028, unless explicitly renewed, and a “suspension clause”, which would be activated in the event the US violates the deal’s rules.

“After the Greenland issue, we introduced a clear criterion for the territorial sovereignty of the European Union, to the set of criteria for a possible suspension”, said Socialist MEP Bernd Lange, lead negotiator on the file.

The Parliament’s version of the trade deal will also feature a safeguard mechanism to address the impact the reduction of tariffs for US goods could have on the EU market.

It also includes an automatic reintroduction of tariffs if the US does not reducing its own tariffs to 15% for a list of more than 400 steel-related products, which was agreed last July but which has not yet happened.

After the final vote in the plenary session, the Parliament will have to negotiate the terms of the agreement with the EU countries, and some of the conditions may change.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party secured a sweeping win in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, capturing about 316 seats in the 465-member lower house and achieving a governing supermajority alongside allies. The result gives her a strong mandate to advance a conservative agenda focused on defense, immigration and economic reforms, the Associated Press reported.

A heavy metal fan and drummer, Takaichi — who has long cited former British PM Margaret Thatcher as a personal and political inspiration — expressed gratitude for President Trump’s support, thanking him for his congratulatory message following the victory and signaling continued alignment with Washington.

Trump praised her leadership in a post after the results were announced. “Congratulations to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Coalition on a LANDSLIDE Victory in today’s very important Vote,” Trump wrote on social media, “Sanae’s bold and wise decision to call for an election paid off big time. Her Party now runs the Legislature, holding a HISTORIC TWO THIRDS SUPERMAJORITY — The first time since World War II. Sanae: It was my Honor to Endorse you and your Coalition. I wish you Great Success in passing your Conservative, Peace Through Strength Agenda. The wonderful people of Japan, who voted with such enthusiasm, will always have my strong support.”

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The election outcome represents one of the strongest performances for the ruling party in years and solidifies Takaichi’s position only months after taking office as Japan’s first female prime minister.

Following the results, Takaichi said she was prepared to move forward with policies aimed at making Japan “strong and prosperous,” as she seeks to implement reforms and bolster national security, the Associated Press reported.

Her agenda includes boosting defense spending, revising security policies and stimulating economic growth, while maintaining a tougher posture toward regional threats such as China. Known for her hawkish stance on Beijing, Takaichi is expected to maintain Japan’s close alignment with the United States.

“Takaichi’s landslide win shows other leaders that defiance of China can be popular with voters. Nobody has to appease or please Xi Jinping anymore,” Asia analyst Gordon Chang told Fox News Digital.

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U.S. officials also welcomed the outcome. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described aid on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo” that Takaichi is a strong ally and emphasized that her leadership strengthens the strategic partnership between Washington and Tokyo.

Takaichi’s victory is widely seen as a geopolitical signal as well as a domestic political triumph. Analysts say the strengthened mandate could deepen cooperation with the United States on security and economic policy at a time of rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

The snap election, called just months into her premiership, was widely viewed as a referendum on her leadership. With the opposition fragmented, voters delivered a decisive result that now gives Takaichi political space to pursue her agenda through the remainder of the parliamentary term.

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Takaichi backs strengthening Japan’s defense posture and supports constitutional revision to expand the role of the military. Economically, she has praised the stimulus-driven policies associated with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Her public thanks to Trump underscores how central the U.S. alliance remains to Tokyo’s strategy moving forward, experts say, as she prepares to translate electoral momentum into legislative and security action at home and abroad.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.