The European Parliament has postponed until next week a decision on reopening work on a trade agreement with the United States that the assembly paused following President Donald Trump’s reported interest in acquiring Greenland and his threats of tariffs.
The parliament's trade committee had been due to set a position in votes on Monday and Tuesday, but no definitive decision was reached. Roberta Metsola, the assembly's president, had indicated last week that discussions could resume soon to bring the process back on track, but the chair of the trade committee, German Social Democrat lawmaker Bernd Lange, said in a social media post on Monday that the matter remained unresolved.
"European Parliament negotiating team will meet again next Wednesday, 4 February, to reassess the situation," Lange wrote, and he added that a decision would need to be taken in time for the committee's subsequent meeting on February 23-24.
Voices within the parliament remain split. Swedish Liberal Karin Karlsbro said improved trade relations between the U.S. and the EU were essential but insisted they must be based on mutual respect. "The door is open, but there is no need to rush the timetable," she said in a statement.
Officials caution that any significant delay or an effective freeze of the agreement could provoke a strong reaction from the Trump administration, potentially prompting higher U.S. tariffs. At the same time, the administration has ruled out making concessions - for example cutting tariffs on spirits or steel - until the broader deal is concluded.
The EU assembly has been debating legislative measures to remove a wide range of import duties on U.S. goods, which form a central component of the agreement reached at Turnberry, Scotland, at the end of July. The proposals also include continuing zero duties for U.S. lobsters, a provision initially agreed with President Trump in 2020. Those legislative texts require the approval of both the parliament and EU governments to take effect.
Many lawmakers have expressed concerns that the deal as negotiated is tilted in favor of the United States, with the EU expected to eliminate most of its import duties while the U.S. maintains an overall rate of about 15 percent. Nevertheless, several parliamentarians had previously appeared prepared to accept the agreement subject to safeguards, such as an 18-month sunset clause and mechanisms to address potential surges of U.S. imports.
Even if the trade committee moves forward with votes in the coming days, the pathway to final approval is likely to remain prolonged. The parliament and EU member-state governments would first need to agree on a single negotiated text, a process that could extend final ratification by a month or two beyond committee decisions.
Summary: The European Parliament delayed votes on whether to resume work on an EU-US trade deal after suspending negotiations over U.S. actions relating to Greenland and tariff threats. A negotiating team will meet on February 4 to reassess, with a final decision needed before the committee meeting on February 23-24. Lawmakers are divided over terms, and final approval requires further negotiation between the parliament and EU governments.