EU clears major hurdle to finalize U.S. trade pact — and sidestep Trump tariff hikes

Key points

• Ursula von der Leyen (CDU), President of the European Commission, sits on the podium at the Charlemagne Prize ceremony in City Hall.
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday welcomed a provisional agreement on legislation to remove import duties on U.S.
• goods and called on co-legislators to move swiftly to finalize the process.
• EU lawmakers welcomed the breakthrough after more than five hours of talks overnight, saying it likely paves the way for the 27-nation bloc to avoid a threat by U.S.
• President Donald Trump to punish a further delay with higher tariffs.