Socialists rebuff EPP push to advance EU-US trade deal talks

Published on 11/05/2026 - 19:29 GMT+2

The EU-US commercialized woody is driving a wedge betwixt the 2 largest groups successful the European Parliament — the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) — aft the latest effort to instrumentality the statement failed past week.

In caller days, the EPP has tried to bring guardant the adjacent circular of talks betwixt the European Parliament and EU subordinate states to fine-tune the details of the deal.

However, Bernd Lange, the German Socialist MEP who chairs the Trade Committee, rejected the petition and insisted connected keeping 19 May arsenic the day for the adjacent negotiating round, according to radical acquainted with the substance who spoke to Euronews.

US President Donald Trump has fixed the Europeans until 4 July to finalise the agreement, which would trim EU tariffs connected US goods to zero and headdress US tariffs astatine 15%, successful enactment with the woody agreed past summertime successful Turnberry by Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Although MEPs broadly expect a affirmative result earlier Trump’s deadline, the disagreement implicit the timing of the adjacent talks highlights differing views among governmental groups connected the urgency of the situation.

The EPP argues that European businesses request certainty implicit commercialized relations with the US arsenic soon arsenic possible, informing that immoderate further hold could airs risks to industry.

The enactment besides points to Donald Trump’s expanding unit connected Europe, including threats to enforce 25% tariffs connected European cars and trucks if the EU fails to instrumentality the deal.

The S&D, meanwhile, does not privation to springiness successful to pressure, peculiarly successful airy of caller US tribunal rulings against the planetary tariffs imposed by Trump.

“The latest developments amusement that it was close for america to basal steadfast against the American run of threats. European authorities indispensable not beryllium shaped by threatening societal media posts from Washington,” Lange said successful a caller property release.

He argued that EU antiauthoritarian procedures are “not negotiable” and rejected US disapproval that Europe is moving excessively slowly.

“Delays were caused by the irresponsible actions of President Trump, for illustration regarding his request for the annexation of Greenland. His assertion that we Europeans are failing to conscionable our obligations is simply false,” helium said.