Ahead of new interinstitutional negotiations (trilogue), on Wednesday 6 May, on the trade compromise, known as the ‘Turnberry’ deal, concluded with Washington last summer, the European Union is seeking to avoid a further escalation of US tariffs, while displaying differences of opinion on the strategy to be adopted.
With Donald Trump’s administration threatening to raise customs tariffs on the European automotive sector again (see EUROPE 13861/14), a consensus seems to be emerging on the need to secure the agreement quickly. It remains to be seen under what conditions.
The European Commission is continuing to favour appeasement and is reaffirming its desire to implement the ‘Turnberry’ deal according to terms agreed, while part of the European Parliament is calling for a firmer line in the face of threats from the White House. The Parliament has already given the green light in principle to the EU-US agreement (see EUROPE 13837/4), but the final version still has to be agreed with the Member States.
France wants to unleash its trade ‘bazooka’. In addition, on the sidelines of the European Political Community (EPC) summit, French President Emmanuel Macron called, on Tuesday, for the European Union’s Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), dubbed the EU’s trade ‘bazooka’, to be activated.
Criticising the “threats of destabilisation” wielded by the US President, Emmanuel Macron felt that the Union had “equipped itself with instruments that should be activated, because that is precisely what they are for”. Paris is calling for the EU to use this trade instrument, if necessary, in the event that Washington carries out its tariff threats. The ACI, adopted in 2023, enables the EU to react in the event of economic pressure exerted by a third country on the Union or its Member States. To date this mechanism has never been activated.
The European Parliament is calling for safeguards. According to our information, the idea of using the Anti-Coercion Instrument is also gaining ground among the progressive groups in the European Parliament. On the eve of the trilogue, several MEPs are maintaining their demand for additional safeguards on the agreement.
“Without the adoption of protective measures tomorrow, in particular the ‘sunrise clause’, the trilogue will not be conclusive, because Parliament will very clearly defend its position. We cannot approve the Turnberry deal without safeguards”, stated the Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the United States, Brando Benifei (S&D, Italian), interviewed by Agence Europe. The Social Democrat negotiator insisted on the need to reach an agreement quickly, while demanding protection mechanisms.
On the right, the tone is also hardening. “If this week’s trilogue fails, then we in the EPP will simply put [Turnberry] to the vote”, warned EPP group leader Manfred Weber on Tuesday. He is threatening to put an end to discussions with the Member States and to raise the issue at the next plenary session of the European Parliament, reports Euractiv.
The European Commission is maintaining its line of appeasement. In the face of US pressure, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, supported the adoption of the political compromise as it stands. “An agreement is an agreement, and we have one”, she said from the EPC summit in Yerevan, according to AFP. “[The EU and the United States] are implementing this agreement while respecting the various democratic procedures in force on both sides”, she added.
At the same time, the European Trade Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, met US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, on Tuesday, on the sidelines of a G7 meeting in Paris.
According to a Commission spokesperson, during this exchange, Commissioner Šefčovič called for a rapid return to the conditions laid down in the ‘Turnberry’ deal, namely a 15% tariff cap in exchange for a reduction in customs duties on the European side in certain sectors. The European Commission has stated that it will continue to work to advance discussions on all the key points of the text. (Original version in French by Juliette Verdes)