EU lawmakers push to advance EU–US trade agreement amid ongoing tensions
EU lawmakers have decided to advance the EU–US trade agreement, with a committee vote scheduled for Thursday following months of resistance.
EU lawmakers are set to vote on the EU–US trade agreement on Thursday, following a compromise that addresses legal concerns and threats to territorial integrity.
EU lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the trade agreement in the committee this Thursday amid ongoing debates and concerns over its terms.
Briefing summary
EU lawmakers announced progress on the EU–US trade agreement after previously resisting pressure, confirming a vote in the committee scheduled for Thursday. German MEP Bernd Lange highlighted broad support from political groups.
The European Commission is urging the bloc to proceed with the deal despite the US launching an investigation into alleged unfair trade practices. Trade chief Maroš Šefčovič has been vocal about moving forward.
Some political factions, particularly Socialists and Democrats, are advocating for a postponement until April to discuss the agreement further, citing concerns about its impact on Europe amidst shifting US trade policies.
European Parliament moves to revive the EU-US trade deal after months of gridlock
EU lawmakers moved to advance the EU–US trade agreement after months of resisting pressure from Washington and the European Commission on Tuesday.
Members of the European Parliament had resisted continuing the process to implement an agreement seen as lopsided in favour of the US.
Still, despite legal and political concerns, they have decided to restart it.
“There was a broad understanding from more or less all political groups supporting my compromise and this is a big achievement,” German MEP Bernd Lange (S&D), chair of the trade committee, told journalists, adding: “Therefore, we will go for the vote on Thursday in the committee.”
MEPs’ resistance in recent months stemmed from what they see as erratic trade policy coming from the White House since launching an aggressive global agenda last year following Liberation Day. The deal was thrown into disarray after the US Supreme Court declared Trump’s initial “reciprocal” tariffs as illegal at the start of the year.
Lawmakers negotiated until the last minute a compromise including a clause allowing the EU to suspend the agreement in case of threats to its territorial integrity, following Trump’s constant threats if European countries refused to let him takeover Greenland in January when tensions peaked over the territory belonging to member state Denmark.
Uncertainty over the final vote at the Parliament
Despite the US launching an investigation last week against the EU into alleged unfair trade practices, the Commission insists the bloc must stick to the deal, and EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič has called on lawmakers to move ahead with the vote repeatedly.
“I don’t like playing games. Now we have promises from the White House and everything that [we need],” Željana Zovko, lead negotiator for the European People’s Party, told journalists in Brussels, accusing some MEPs of seeking to delay final approval for political reasons unrelated to the terms of the agreement itself.
Socialists and Democrats and other left-leaning groups are pushing for more time to hold more internal discussions, looking to postpone a decision until at least April.
“My group asked for some more time to discuss it among the different members,” said Lange, acknowledging that some lawmakers still need convincing.
According to internal sources, French and Italian Socialists are among the most reluctant to endorse the deal, which they see as suboptimal for Europe facing Trump.