‘We will not be bullied’: MEPs dig in over delayed US trade deal

Published on 07/05/2026 - 19:57 GMT+2

The European Commission insisted connected Thursday that “progress” had been made successful late-night talks with MEPs and subordinate authorities officials connected implementing past August’s EU-US commercialized deal, and that the process remained “fully successful enactment with modular legislative practice”.

But wrong the room, negotiators were acold isolated connected what is inactive needed.

Nine months aft the arguable statement was struck astatine the Turnberry play people betwixt Brussels and Washington, the woody remains bogged down successful fraught negotiations betwixt MEPs, the Commission and EU subordinate states, with divisions hardening conscionable arsenic Donald Trump ramps up pressure connected Europe with caller tariff threats.

The statement would scrap EU tariffs connected US concern goods and bounds US tariffs to 15%, but astatine the weekend, Trump, frustrated astatine the delays, threatened to complaint by 25% European cars and trucks, if the EU fails to enactment the woody into force.

Yet Wednesday night’s trilogue negotiations betwixt EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, MEPs and EU nationalist governments broke down aft six hours of talks, amid fierce absorption from respective governmental groups successful the European Parliament. Although Šefčovič hailed “constructive mood” successful the room, the deadlock means a caller gathering is present acceptable for 19 May.

While the Commission and astir EU countries privation the woody to beryllium approved swiftly, MEPs refused to compromise during the talks, demanding safeguard mechanisms successful lawsuit Washington violates the woody with caller tariffs. The negotiators besides failed to hold connected the MEP request for a suspension clause, which would let the EU to frost the statement instantly if Trump threatens the EU’s territorial integrity, arsenic helium did earlier this twelvemonth erstwhile helium suggested the US could annex Greenland.

Another measurement sought by MEPs is simply a safeguard if a flood of US imports distorts contention wrong the EU's Single Market. And the Parliament’s main negotiator, German MEP Bernd Lange, told the negotiators that the EU needed a sunset clause, which would automatically expire tariff alleviation astatine the extremity of March 2028, unless explicitly renewed.

MEPs pushed backmost against calls to rubber stamp the deal, saying they would not beryllium rushed, contempt the combined unit from governments, the Commission, manufacture and the US. Indeed, they accidental Trump's ain threats – and his erratic behaviour – marque safeguards adjacent much necessary.

“We are not present to beryllium bullied. It takes immoderate time, but this is the regular legislative EU process, and we are moving constructively,” a S&D root told Euronews.

“The Parliament is not blocking the agreement, we are moving connected implementing it,” Greens/EFA MEP Anna Cavazzini told Euronews.

However, Parliament officials told Euronews they were assured the woody could beryllium approved wrong the adjacent 2 weeks, with MEPs considering an bonzer gathering adjacent week to velocity up the process.

“The earlier we tin adjacent the proceedings of negotiations, the earlier we springiness clarity for businesses and so much predictability successful a turbulent situation,” European People’s Party’s MEP Jörgen Warborn, 1 of the deal’s negotiators, told Euronews.