Bernd Lange, the lead MEP negotiating the EU-US trade agreement, dismissed calls from Washington to accelerate its enactment, emphasizing that the bloc’s democratic processes cannot be influenced by tariff threats from President Donald Trump.
German MEP Bernd Lange (S&D), who is the primary negotiator for the European Parliament on the EU-US trade agreement, defended the legislative procedure on Friday designed to implement the pact, countering US accusations that Europe is delaying progress.
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These remarks followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that the EU has until 4 July to eliminate tariffs on American goods as per the agreement finalized last year in Turnberry with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, warning that otherwise new tariffs on European products will be imposed.
Washington has increased pressure on Brussels to expedite the legislation necessary to enact the agreement. However, discussions between the EU’s co-legislators collapsed on Wednesday night without reaching an accord.
“European lawmaking cannot be steered by threatening messages from Washington on social media,” Lange stated, adding: “Our democratic processes remain non-negotiable. Even amidst turbulence, we maintain a steady course.”
Earlier, Trump had already warned of introducing 25% tariffs on EU automobiles if the bloc failed to fulfill its commitments under the deal—well above the 15% limit agreed upon in Turnberry.
These recent threats have not changed the negotiations between MEPs and member states, which remain stalled due to Parliament’s insistence on including specific safeguards in the agreement.
US courts’ rulings
Since the agreement’s conclusion, MEPs have been among its strongest opponents, criticizing what they perceive as an unbalanced deal where the EU faces 15% tariffs and commits significant investments in the US while removing its own duties entirely.
MEPs suspended the deal earlier this year after Trump threatened tariffs on Europe during his attempt to acquire Greenland. Parliament subsequently imposed conditions on the agreement, including a “sunset clause” to terminate it in March 2028 and a suspension mechanism for new threats from Washington, market distortions due to US imports, or economic coercion.
Lange emphasized that these protections must also guard the agreement against increasing legal uncertainties in the US, resulting from recent court decisions such as Thursday’s US Court of International Trade ruling blocking tariffs against two plaintiff companies, alongside a Supreme Court ruling from February declaring the 2025 tariffs unlawful.
“All these developments highlight the necessity for a robust European safety net,” the MEP noted.
“Europe must retain the ability to act. It is crucial to uphold the agreement while being prepared to respond rapidly if the US stance shifts again. Anything less would be imprudent and short-sighted.”
Lange confirmed that a new round of discussions between EU legislators and member states is scheduled for 19 May, with both parties aiming to finalize a deal that Parliament could approve by June, ahead of Trump’s looming deadline.