Some time had passed since the American president last directed threats at Europe.

On Monday Donald Trump warned France of a 100 percent tariff on its wines unless the digital services tax was withdrawn.

More than a year after the start of Trump tariff actions the question remains what duties currently apply to European goods.

Members of the European Parliament from the Left group voiced sharp criticism after the vote that endorsed removal of tariffs on numerous American products noting that even Iran secured better terms than the EU.

The story begins last February when Donald Trump imposed punitive tariffs worldwide including on Europe.

European negotiators later obtained a modestly reduced rate through talks.

The arrangement set a 15 percent US tariff on European goods while eliminating duties on a short list of industrial items important to the EU.

In exchange the EU agreed to drop tariffs on a broad range of American industrial and farm products.

The resulting deal is clearly asymmetric yet the commission sought a stable low ceiling to give businesses predictability rather than constant change.

The European Parliament has now given final approval to the legislation that lowers EU tariffs as agreed and member states are expected to follow in coming days completing Europe side of the bargain.

The United States has not fully honored the terms.

After the agreement Washington applied the 15 percent rate and cut some vehicle tariffs but at the same time introduced a 50 percent tariff on aluminum and more than 400 related products from Europe breaching the deal.

These new duties stem from US investigations into imports said to threaten domestic industries in sectors such as cars steel aluminum and pharmaceuticals.

Trump claims the measures fall outside the earlier understanding while Europe viewed the 15 percent rate as an absolute ceiling.

Additional threats have continued on cars and recently on French wine.

The pressure also targets Europe digital regulations with opposition to fines on major tech firms and to digital services taxes in some member states.

Demands show no sign of ending.

Despite the pattern the EU continues lowering its tariffs because the threats are effective.

Exporters fear every extra percentage point and steel shipments to the United States have already dropped 34 percent.

Businesses therefore press policymakers to accommodate Washington.

Member states have followed this approach and persuaded Parliament to soften wording that might appear confrontational.

Many MEPs had wanted to delay EU tariff cuts until aluminum duties were reduced yet the final text grants the United States immediate preferential access while giving it until year end to act.

This imbalance explains why some political groups remain reluctant.

Even during the Biden presidency no lasting steel and aluminum accord was reached so expectations with Trump are low.

Retaliation remains possible but Trump responds more to political wins than economic arguments and the EU judges that further escalation would only deepen damage to European industry.