The European Parliament decided on Monday to postpone a vote on the European Union’s trade deal with the United States due to US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a blanket 15% import duty after the Supreme Court struck down his previous global tariffs, two parliamentary sources said on Monday
The EU assembly has been debating legislative proposals to remove many EU import duties on U.S. goods, a key part of the agreement struck in Turnberry, Scotland, at the end of July, as well as to continue zero duties for U.S. lobsters, initially agreed with Trump in 2020.
The proposals require approval by the parliament and EU governments.
Parliament’s trade committee had been due to vote on Tuesday, but that vote has now been postponed in what is the second such suspension by EU lawmakers.
They previously halted their work on the deal in protest at Trump’s demands to acquire Greenland and threats of extra tariffs on European allies who opposed his plan.
Many lawmakers have complained that the trade deal itself is lopsided, with the EU required to cut most import duties while the U.S. sticks to a broad rate of 15%.
However, they had previously appeared willing to accept it, albeit with conditions, opens new tab, such as an 18-month sunset clause and measures to respond to possible surges of U.S. imports.
Source: Reuters