MEPs in the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade are voting on a motion for a resolution on two trade negotiation mandates with the United States on Tuesday 19 February. The vote should reveal a very clear split within the assembly.
The negotiating directives, proposed by the Commission, concern the elimination of customs duties on industrial products and conformity assessment (see EUROPE 12175).
An overview of the amendments tabled by the political groups confirms the opinions expressed by them in previous debates (see EUROPE 12184, 12187).
The resolution, supported by the rapporteur, Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany), is against the launch of these talks (see EUROPE 12193). The S&D is joined by the other groups to the left of the European assembly, namely the GUE/NGL, the Greens/EFA, but also by the EFDD and ENL groups. For these groups, the circumstances under which these talks are being considered, the process that led to them and the shortcomings of the mandates do not allow for the opening of new trade negotiations with Washington (see EUROPE 12193).
To the right and centre, however, the EPP, ALDE and the ECR support the European Commission's initiative, subject to certain conditions. These groups defend specific circumstances that justify the exceptions tolerated in these mandates. According to them, these negotiations are necessary to achieve the 'positive' agenda set out in the joint declaration of 25 July. They would also help to restore predictability in the transatlantic relationship and keep the United States engaged at the multilateral level.
A majority of MEPs in these groups, on the other hand, agree with the S&D on certain points, such as the inclusion of the automotive sector in the discussions.
In the event of new trade restrictions, the groups are almost unanimous: negotiations will have to be suspended.
As for the tariff measures already applied to imports of steel and aluminium from the EU, they must be lifted, before the agreement is concluded, for the EPP or the ECR, or before its implementation, for ALDE.
On Monday 18 February, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, met in Brussels with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to discuss the state of the transatlantic relationship. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)