European Parliament Suspends Approval of US-Europe Trade Agreement, Calls on the US to Clarify Uncertainties

According to reports from CCTV News and other media outlets, as U.S. tariff policies face significant uncertainties, the European Parliament announced on Monday that it would suspend the approval process for trade agreements between Europe and the United States.

European Parliament International Trade Committee Chair Bernd Lange stated in a release that the majority of members have agreed to suspend the process regarding the EU-U.S. trade agreement under current circumstances, until clarity, stability, and legal certainty are restored in U.S.-EU trade relations.

(Source: European Parliament official website)

As background, last Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed by Trump under the Emergency Economic Powers Act were illegal. Based on the aforementioned tariff policies, the U.S. and EU reached a trade agreement in Turnberry, Scotland, in July 2025. The EU agreed to eliminate tariffs on U.S. industrial products, provide preferential market access for American agricultural products, commit to purchasing $750 billion worth of energy products, and invest $600 billion in the U.S., in exchange for the U.S. imposing tariffs of up to 15% on most EU exports to America.

(Former U.S. President Donald Trump shaking hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Trump Turnberry Golf Course after reaching a trade agreement)

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, Trump announced the imposition of “global import tariffs” under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, currently enforced at the law’s maximum of 15% for up to 150 days.

Lange stated in the release that the Supreme Court’s decision was clear and unequivocal. Its impact cannot be ignored, and following the established procedures is no longer feasible.

He further emphasized that a key tool used by the U.S. for negotiating and implementing the Turnberry agreement is no longer available. Meanwhile, the U.S. alternative measures would result in import tariffs exceeding the 15% threshold for EU imports, significantly deviating from the terms of the Turnberry agreement.

Lange cited an example: before the trade deal was reached last year, the U.S. already imposed a 15% tariff on European cheese, and the agreement capped tariffs at 15%. But now, with the addition of the 15% “global import tariff,” the actual rate approaches 30%.

It is worth noting that since last summer, tensions between Europe and the U.S. have already affected the implementation of trade agreements, not to mention that the agreement was unpopular among Europeans from the start. In January this year, in response to Trump’s threat to impose additional tariffs on eight European countries if he could not control Greenland, the European Parliament responded by suspending the approval process for the trade agreement. With strong opposition from the EU and its member states, Trump’s “Greenland tariff” threat was subsequently withdrawn.

Faced with major changes in U.S. tariffs, the EU naturally chose to press the “pause button” again.

“The U.S. needs to clearly explain what exactly is happening to us,” EU trade spokesperson Olof Gill said before the Parliament’s statement on Monday, adding that the Trump administration’s responses so far have not satisfied the EU.

He also stated, “Communication between the EU and the U.S. is ongoing, but current progress is insufficient, and more substantive responses are needed from the U.S.”

The decision to “wait and see” is not only from the EU. According to multiple media reports, the India trade delegation scheduled to visit the U.S. this week has canceled their trip, and will reschedule for a more convenient date. Earlier this month, India and the U.S. reached a temporary agreement, reducing the previously deemed illegal “reciprocal tariffs” from 25% to 18%.