ey points
- Greenland demand triggers parliamentary protest
- Tariff threats derail Turnberry agreement
- Lawmakers criticise deal as unbalanced
BRUSSELS: The European Parliament has suspended work on a proposed trade deal between the European Union and the United States, citing opposition to US President Donald Trump’s demands to acquire Greenland and his renewed threats of tariffs against European allies.
According to Reuters, the move halts parliamentary consideration of legislative proposals that would remove many EU import duties on US goods — a central element of the agreement reached in Turnberry, Scotland, at the end of July — as well as extend zero tariffs on US lobster imports first agreed with Washington in 2020.
The proposals require approval from both the European Parliament and EU member states. While many lawmakers have criticised the deal as unbalanced — arguing it would force the EU to cut most import duties while the United States maintains a broad 15 per cent tariff rate — there had previously been willingness to accept it with safeguards, including an 18-month sunset clause and measures to counter potential surges in US imports.
Trade committee
The European Parliament’s trade committee had been scheduled to define its position in votes on January 26–27. However, those votes have now been postponed.
Committee chair Bernd Lange said on Wednesday that fresh US tariff threats had effectively broken the Turnberry agreement, leaving the deal “on hold until further notice”.
Freezing the process risks further straining transatlantic relations, with concerns that Trump could respond by raising US tariffs.
The Trump administration has also ruled out any concessions — including cuts to tariffs on steel or spirits — until the deal is fully approved.
