The United States and the European Union have reached a preliminary trade framework intended to lower tariffs on selected industrial goods and improve visibility across supply chains, officials said on Sunday. The move is designed to reduce friction in transatlantic commerce after months of concern over higher costs and supply disruptions.

According to officials, the agreement is still subject to further technical work before it can be finalized. Even so, the outline marks a step toward calmer trade relations between two of the world’s largest economies, with both sides seeking to limit uncertainty for manufacturers, shippers and investors.

The framework focuses on easing tariff pressure in key sectors while encouraging more transparent supply-chain data-sharing. Supporters say that could help businesses plan more reliably and reduce the risk of bottlenecks that have affected industrial production and delivery schedules in recent years.

The agreement comes as policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic face pressure to protect domestic industry without deepening inflation or slowing growth. If completed, the deal could become a reference point for future efforts to manage trade disputes through negotiation rather than escalation.