Legal Ruling Throws Pact into Question
European Parliament negotiators have suspended the EU-US trade agreement after a US Supreme Court ruling challenged the legality of some tariffs imposed in 2025. The court concluded that President Donald Trump had exceeded his authority by imposing duties without Congress under emergency powers. In response, Trump announced new 15% tariffs on imports, further complicating the deal’s implementation.
German MEP Bernd Lange, chair of the parliamentary trade committee, said the legal foundation of the pact had “totally changed” and emphasized that the EU needs a clear commitment from Washington before moving forward.
A Controversial Agreement
The EU-US trade deal, negotiated in July 2025 by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump, had already drawn criticism in Europe for favoring the US. While it locks in 15% tariffs on EU exports, American goods enjoy mostly duty-free access to the bloc.
Parliament had previously frozen the deal after Trump threatened tariffs on EU countries over Greenland, but work resumed and a vote had been scheduled for Tuesday. That vote has now been indefinitely postponed.
Diplomatic Efforts Underway
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič met with Parliament negotiators and held talks over the weekend with US counterparts Howard Lutnick and Jamieson Greer, as well as a video call with G7 trade officials.
Šefčovič stressed that clarity on the application of the 15% tariff is critical, saying, “A deal is a deal and we have to respect it.” He expressed hope that Parliament could still vote on the agreement during its March plenary session, even as uncertainty remains amid Washington’s aggressive push to bring industry back to the US and boost federal revenue.
