The European Parliament approves a negotiating plan to implement customs arrangements by agreement "Turnberry" With America
Brussels, 26 March / WAM / The European Parliament today adopted its negotiating position on two legislative proposals aimed at implementing the customs aspects of the trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, known as the “Turnberry Agreement”, in preparation for the launch of negotiations with the governments of member states regarding the final version of the legislation.
According to the two proposals, if they are finally approved, the bulk of customs duties imposed on American industrial goods will be cancelled, while agricultural and marine products from the United States will be granted preferential access to European markets, in line with the understandings reached by the two sides in the summer of 2025.
The European representatives stressed the need to include strict guarantees, most notably the suspension clause, which allows the European Commission to partially or completely suspend customs privileges if Washington imposes new duties or increases existing duties by more than 15%, or if it takes discriminatory measures or practices that affect the sovereignty of member states.
Parliament also included the “Sunrise Clause” clause, which links the entry into force of customs privileges with the United States’ full compliance with the terms of the agreement, including reducing duties on European products that contain less than 50% of steel and aluminum to a maximum of 15%. If this percentage is exceeded, European privileges on US exports of these materials will be suspended after six months unless Washington adheres to the same ceiling.
Representatives also agreed to set March 31, 2028 as the date for the expiration of the legislation, with the possibility of extending it only through new legislation based on a comprehensive assessment of its economic and trade impacts.
The European Commission will monitor the implementation of the new rules, with the authority to temporarily suspend their implementation if it becomes clear that the increase in American imports is causing serious harm to European industry, such as imports of a certain item exceeding 10% within a short period.
Bernd Lange, rapporteur of the file in Parliament, said that today’s vote gives the European institution a strong mandate to negotiate with the Council, stressing that representatives will not ratify any final agreement without clear guarantees and full American commitment to its provisions. The parliamentary position also stipulated the inclusion of the “Sunset Clause” clause to ensure legislative oversight of any possible extension of customs privileges, in accordance with the rules of the World Trade Organization.
The two texts were approved by a majority of 417 votes to 154, and 71 deputies abstained from voting in the first proposal, while the second proposal received 437 votes to 144, and 60 deputies abstained.
It is noteworthy that the “Turnberry” agreement dates back to July 27, 2025, when US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reached a historic understanding in the Scottish city of Turnberry regarding trade duties. Later in August, the Commission put forward two legislative proposals to implement the customs aspects of the agreement and expand the scope of mutual customs exemptions.
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