European Union approves a temporary trade deal with the USA, while it has been making deals with many others

2026 © COGwriter

COGwriter

Despite being upset with the USA, the European Union formally approved the Trump Administration trade deal:

17 June 2026

The European Parliament today gave its final approval to the EU-US Framework Agreement on Trade, known as the “Turnberry deal”, clearing the way for implementation. Backed by the EPP Group, the agreement brings much-needed certainty to European businesses and workers and prevents a damaging trade escalation with the United States.

“Despite its shortcomings, this remains the most viable outcome for European businesses and the preferable basis for transatlantic trade. It is about securing steadiness for companies and workers, not prolonging hesitation through delay,” said Jörgen Warborn MEP, the EPP Group’s spokesman on international trade. https://www.facebook.com/EPPGroup/posts/the-european-parliament-today-gave-its-final-approval-to-the-eu-us-framework-agr/1457141499777426/

Op-ed: The Turnberry deal showed why the European Parliament matters

17 June 2026

or the first time in recent memory, many on both sides of the Atlantic have understood what the European Parliament is truly for.

The debate surrounding the so-called Turnberry agreement between the European Union and the U.S. has revealed an undeniable fact: when political pressure intensifies, threats multiply and the temptation grows to replace rules with improvised deals, Parliament remains the institution best placed to defend the integrity of the European project and its principles.

Throughout the negotiations, it acted not as an obstacle to transatlantic dialogue, but as a guarantor that Europe’s democratic procedures, institutional balance and rule-of-law standards would be respected.

At several points during the talks — including after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Greenland’s territorial integrity and trade relations with Spain — Parliament suspended its legislative work rather than allow pressure for a rapid agreement to override the need for safeguards, accountability and democratic scrutiny. …

Europe could not legitimize a model of commercial relations based on arbitrary pressure or transactional bargaining detached from established international and domestic legal frameworks. …

Parliament obtained a clear expiry date for the agreement, with all EU concessions automatically ending on December 31, 2029. https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/oped-the-turnberry-deal-highlighted-the-indispensable-role-of-the-european-parliament

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.

16 June 2026

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 European Parliament’s trade committee, Bernd Lange. …

US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to a deal in August last year. …

But many legal details remained unspecified at the time, while a US Supreme Court decision striking down many Trump’s tariffs also caused delays.

Meanwhile, Trump’s threats over Greenland also prompted Europe to delay implementing its side of the bargain.

Trump eventually gave Europe a deadline of July 4 — US Independence Day — to implement the deal. https://www.dw.com/en/european-parliament-approves-us-trade-deal-to-lower-tariffs/a-77577033

The European Union does not like the deal, but basically feels it was forced to do it. That is part of why it has an expiration date. The EU is expected to push harder for its next trade deal,

This current deal has caused resentment in the EU against the USA.

Plus, the Trump Administration has succeeded in pushing the EU to work to increase trade with other lands.

Consider the following deals that the EU has accelerated and/or made since Donald Trump began his second term in office:

EU–Mercosur    Provisionally applied from May 2026

EU–Mexico (modernized)            Signed May 2026

EU–Australia      Negotiations concluded 2026

EU–India              Negotiations concluded January 2026–formal signing planned later in 2026 per announcement from Ursula von der Leyen today June 17, 2026

EU – Islands in Indian Ocean        Modernised the Economic Partnership Agreement with Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles in June 2026

EU-Turkey       Meeting 4 June 2026 for a reinforced trade partnership to set up for High Level Dialogue on Trade in October 2026 

EU–Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement        Acceleration to finalize announced 5 June 2026

Several African regional agreements       Continued progress, some awaiting signatures or ratifications

EU-South Korea              Digital trade agreement signed 10 June 2026

EU-Gulf States  In progress

EU-ASEAN nations In progress

(Many of the above are also shown in tweets from EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security as well as Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency Maroš Šefčovič at https://x.com/MarosSefcovic?lang=en)

Therefore, despite accepting a deal with the Trump Administration, the EU is making trade moves away from the USA.

Notice also number 8 of my 26 items to prophetically watch in 2026:

8. Trade

Not all warfare is militaristic. There is also economic warfare.

This often involves trade.

The major use of sanctions, mainly pushed by the USA, has been continuing.

This is affecting trade and pushing trade away from the USA. … The EU will decide that Mexico and the rest of Latin America are in more agreement with it and thus make some type of serious trading agreement with most (or all) of Latin America.

These things are happening. Even the USDA noted: Mexico and the European Union are expected to sign the Modernized Global Agreement in 2026.

Notice also number 9 of my 26 items to prophetically watch in 2026:

9. European Trade Moves

And Europe?

Donald Trump’s tariffs, threats, etc. are a major concern for Europe and its trade.

In 2018, I wrote:

The Europeans have been working with Latin America, China, Russia’s Eurasian Union, and other areas of the world to try to set up its dominance of world trade as well as standards for world trade. (19 items to prophetically watch in 2019)

Such deals have been happening. But expect more concrete action, at least partially because of the reelection of Donald Trump, along with J.D. Vance.

Europe will reach out to various ones in Asia and Africa, as well as Latin America. In the next several years, deals and more trade will occur with Africa, Asia, Mexico, and South America.

Energy and climate change issues will affect trade in 2026. …

Expect more trade conflict between Europe and the USA.

The Bible shows that Europe will, for a time, dominate trade (cf. Revelation 17 and 18).

Europe will get more serious about trade deals with others internationally, such as being more motivated to approve the trade deal with the Mercosur block of South America.

That said, in 2026 Europe will work on getting more of the world to accept its standards and trading matters. This will help Europe ultimately dominate trade.

For a time, Babylon will dominate world trade:

2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” (Revelation 18:2-3).

While ‘Babylon’ will not fully reign in 2026, with the USA pulling out of trade deals and/or wishing to change them, steps are occurring that are pushing Europe to dominate trade (watch Trade Wars: Are COG warnings coming to pass?).

Expect Europe to reach out to various Gentile nations in Asia, Africa, South America, and elsewhere to make trade deals.

The final time of the Gentiles is approaching. We are seeing BRICS, the Global South, the EU, and others working on ways to trade and not have to deal with the descendants of Ephraim (UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) and Manasseh (the USA).

The Europeans will work with many nations to secure stronger trade agreements.

The Europeans are doing this.

Properly understood biblical prophecies are coming to pass.

Related to European trade, we put together the following video:

14:33

The Europeans Increasing Trade Presence

While the world has been focused on Iran and related issues, the European Union has been busy working on trade deals all over the world. Southeast Asian nations now trust the EU the most, the EU is Africa’s biggest trading partner, the EU made a trade deal with India, the EU is planning on a trade deal with Mexico, and the EU is about to implement its deal with South American Mercosur nations. Is this prophesied? Will Europe emerge as the end time Babylonian beast power? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these matters.

Here is a link to our video: The Europeans Increasing Trade Presence.

Yes, the EU still wants to trade with the USA.

But, the USA is pushing Europe to dominate world trade consistent with prophecies for end time Babylon (cf. 17th and 18th chapters of Revelation.

Plus, the USA is turning Europe away from being an ally and more to be an enemy (cf. Lamentations 1:1-2).

There have been, and will be, many unintended consequences of the Trump Administration.