Brussels – The European Commission on Sunday demanded the United States adhere to the terms of a trade agreement reached last year, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of new global tariffs. The move came after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated parts of Trump’s previous tariff policies, prompting the President to impose a 15 percent tariff on all goods entering the United States, up from a previously reported 10 percent increase.
“A deal is a deal,” a European Commission spokesperson stated, echoing sentiments expressed by multiple EU officials in recent days. The Commission is seeking “full clarity” on Washington’s intentions following the Supreme Court ruling on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), according to a statement released Sunday. The Commission characterized the current situation as “not conducive to delivering ‘fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial’ transatlantic trade and investment.”
The dispute centers on a trade agreement finalized in Scotland last summer. The agreement was intended to resolve earlier trade tensions stemming from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in 2018. However, the new tariffs announced Saturday have cast doubt on the future of the deal.
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič spoke with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Saturday to discuss the situation, according to the European Commission. The conversation followed Trump’s announcement and aimed to ascertain whether the existing trade agreement remains in effect.
Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, has called for a postponement of a vote on legislation implementing the EU’s side of the transatlantic trade deal. Lange described Trump’s imposition of the 15 percent global tariff as “a clear breach of the deal we had agreed,” and indicated he would propose suspending ratification of the agreement. He did not rule out the possibility of renegotiating the terms of the agreement.
The EU’s frustration is compounded by the uncertainty surrounding the long-term implications of the Supreme Court’s decision. While the ruling struck down Trump’s previous tariffs, it did not provide a clear path forward for U.S. Trade policy. This has left European officials concerned about the potential for further disruptions to transatlantic trade.
As of Sunday evening, the European Commission had not received a definitive response from Washington regarding its commitment to the existing trade agreement. The European Parliament is scheduled to consider Lange’s proposal to postpone the ratification vote in the coming days.
