Brussels, Belgium. The European Parliament on Tuesday approved two pieces of legislation aimed at easing trade between the European Union and the United States. Independent MEP Fidias Panayiotou was the only Cypriot member to vote against both measures.
Cypriot votes
Four of Cyprus’ six MEPs voted in favour of the two bills: Loukas Fourlas and Michalis Hadjipantela of Disy, Geadis Geadi of Elam, and Costas Mavrides of Diko. Akel’s Giorgos Georgiou was not present.
Parliament approval
The first regulation passed by 440 votes to 151. It eliminates tariffs on all US industrial goods entering the European single market and provides preferential market access for a range of seafood and agricultural goods.
The second regulation passed by 444 votes to 152. It extends the EU’s zero tariffs on lobster from the United States and expands that tariff-free access to processed lobster.
Safeguard provision
The first regulation also empowers the European Commission to suspend those tariff preferences at the end of this year if the United States continues to apply a tariff rate higher than 15 per cent on EU steel and aluminium derivatives.
Committee chairman statement
Following the votes, parliament’s international trade committee chairman Bernd Lange said the regulation had “become part of the EU’s defensive toolbox”.
“It not only strengthens and stabilises EU-US trade relations, but it also gives the EU the ability to respond if the United States fails to uphold its side of the bargain. Thanks to parliament’s firm stance the final text now contains a far stronger safety net,” he said.
