This decision is expected to escalate tensions between Brussels and Washington ahead of a summit where EU leaders will deliberate their response to Trump’s growing threats.
On Wednesday, European legislators agreed to indefinitely suspend the EU-US trade agreement reached last summer, Euronews has learned. This step adds strain to transatlantic relations after US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs against several European nations refusing his demand that the US should acquire Greenland.
The accord was established last year following lengthy trade disputes sparked by the assertive tariff strategy Trump implemented after his return to office. Although a political consensus was formed, the deal still awaited formal adoption by the European Parliament.
Leading MEPs responsible for the dossier convened on Wednesday afternoon and resolved to halt the ratification, officially delaying a vote initially planned for next week in the Parliament’s Committee on International Trade.
Tensions heightened after Trump announced on social media plans to levy a 10% tariff starting February on Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and the United Kingdom until “a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.” If no agreement occurs by June, the tariff would increase to 25%.
Bernd Lange (S&D), German MEP and chair of the Parliament’s trade committee, stated on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump “appeared not to have changed his stance” after his speech in Davos. “We will extend the procedure until there is clarity regarding Greenland,” he informed reporters.
Members of the European Parliament interpret the threat as a violation of the EU-US deal, which already subjects EU products to 15% US tariffs while committing the EU to reduce its tariffs on US industrial goods to zero.
Željana Zovko, Croatian MEP in charge of the file for the EPP, told Euronews: “The agreement will remain suspended until the US demonstrates genuine readiness to engage with us seriously and ceases tariff threats.”
Legislators had been preparing modifications to the deal for the coming days, many criticizing it as disproportionately favoring the US. On Saturday, leaders from the Parliament’s main political groups – EPP, S&D, and Renew – called for halting the agreement.
EU heads of state will convene on Thursday evening to coordinate the bloc’s response to Trump’s threats, widely perceived as a coercive tactic.
The potential deployment of the EU’s anti-coercion tool, nicknamed the «trade bazooka,» has been suggested recently by several member countries, including France and Germany.
The Parliament is slated to address the issue on Monday. A source familiar with the discussions told Euronews that Wednesday’s meeting failed to reach consensus, although Lange expressed confidence that an agreement will be achieved by next week.
This article has been updated to include statements from MEPs and the latest developments concerning the anti-coercion tool.