The European Parliament’s trade chief is set to propose freezing the ratification of the European Union’s trade agreement with the U.S. until the Donald Trump administration provides specific details on its shifting trade policies. Bernd Lange, chairman of the parliament’s trade committee, announced he will call for a suspension of legislative work on the “Turnberry Agreement” during an emergency meeting this Monday. Lange stated that work should halt until the EU has received a comprehensive legal assessment and clear commitments from the U.S. government regarding its future trade intentions.
“Pure Customs Chaos”
The sudden change in the European Parliament follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose reciprocal tariffs globally. In a social media post on Sunday, Lange characterized the current situation as pure customs chaos on the part of the U.S. government. He noted that the administration’s recent actions have left trading partners with nothing but unanswered questions and growing uncertainty. This is not the first time the committee has paused the approval process; a previous freeze occurred during a diplomatic row following Trump’s threat to annex Greenland.
The Turnberry Agreement at Risk
The deal, struck last summer between President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was designed to stabilize relations after years of friction. Under the current terms, a 15% tariff rate would be applied to most EU exports entering the U.S., while tariffs on American goods entering the European Union would be removed. Additionally, the U.S. would continue to impose a 50% tariff on European steel and aluminum imports. The EU originally agreed to this lopsided deal in hopes of avoiding a full-scale trade war and securing continued U.S. military backing, particularly regarding the situation in Ukraine. Parliament had initially intended to ratify the agreement by March.
Legal Uncertainty and New Tariffs
Following Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, the trade landscape shifted again when Trump initially announced a 10% global tariff, only to hike it to 15% on Saturday. These new measures are based on Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which allows for a 150-day tariff period without congressional consent. Lange has raised serious concerns about whether implementing these new tariffs would directly contravene the terms of the Turnberry deal. He asserted that clarity and legal certainty are now absolute requirements before any further steps toward ratification can be taken by the European side.
