Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Uncertainty
European Parliament negotiators have paused the EU-US trade agreement after last week’s US Supreme Court decision questioned the legality of certain 2025 tariffs imposed by Washington. Following the ruling, President Donald Trump announced new 15% duties on imports, further complicating the implementation of the pact. German MEP Bernd Lange, chair of the parliamentary trade committee, said the legal situation “has totally changed,” adding that the EU needs clear assurances from the United States before moving forward.
European Parliament Seeks Firm Guarantees
The 2025 deal, negotiated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump after weeks of tense discussions, has been controversial in Europe. While it locks in 15% US tariffs on EU exports, it grants most American goods duty-free access to the bloc. MEPs, who must approve the agreement for it to take effect, had already paused the deal once following earlier US tariff threats. A vote scheduled for Tuesday has now been postponed indefinitely until Washington clarifies its commitment to the pact.
Diplomatic Talks Aim to Calm Tensions
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič met with MEPs in an extraordinary session and has engaged with his US counterparts, Howard Lutnick and Jamieson Greer, as well as G7 trade officials, to address the fallout from Washington’s tariff announcement. Šefčovič emphasized that the EU needs clarity on how the deal and its 15% tariffs will be applied, saying, “A deal is a deal and we have to respect it.” The Parliament hopes to resume voting on the agreement during its March plenary session, but uncertainty remains after the Supreme Court found Trump exceeded his authority by imposing tariffs without Congress under a national emergency law.
