The permanent rapporteur on EU-US relations, Bernd Lange (S&D, German), does not intend to reverse the decision taken the previous day, Wednesday 21 January, to halt trade negotiations in the European Parliament on the July 2025 agreement between the EU and the United States (see EUROPE 13791/14).
After US President Donald Trump’s U-turn at the Davos Economic Forum on the evening of Wednesday 21 January regarding the proposed surcharges against eight European countries, Mr Lange’s line remained unchanged.
“There is no room for false security. The next threat is sure to come. That’s why it is even more important that we set clear boundaries, use all available legal instruments (...)”, he explained on Thursday 22 January on X.
He also wants to know the details of the proposed agreement on Greenland negotiated the previous day between Mr Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, before considering a potential resumption of negotiations.
Next Monday 26 January, the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) was due to vote on the two regulations that will allow tariffs on a range of American products to be reduced or eliminated.
Monday’s meeting will now be devoted to “re-examining the issue” and “discussing possible solutions”.
According to several contacts at the Council of the EU and the European Commission, now that Mr Trump has withdrawn his threats of a surtax, it is necessary to make progress on the trade commitments made last summer. Some fear that if the EU does not honour its commitments, the US administration will consider further retaliation.
Similarly – and contrary to Mr Lange's position – European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said upon her arrival at the extraordinary summit of European leaders on the evening of 22 January that the vote could take place “in the next days”. “Our colleagues are confident that we can continue discussions. If all things go well, yes, it can be scheduled in the plenary,” she said.
As for the president of the European Council, António Costa, he considered that the EU should focus now on moving forward on the implementation of the EU US trade deal. “The goal remains the effective stabilization of the trade relations between the European Union and the US”, he underlined. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)