The European People’s Party (PPE) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), center-right and center-left respectively and the two largest parties in the European Parliament, stated that the processing of the European Union’s (EU) trade agreement with the United States will be suspended in the house.
Leaders of the two benches reported that the measure is a response to Washington’s threats to impose surcharges on European countries that do not agree with the US purchase of Greenland.
The agreement, signed in July last year by President Donald Trump and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to end the trade and tariff war between the two sides, but which still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament, provides for 15% American tariffs on imports from the EU in exchange for exemption from duties on exports from the United States to the bloc.
“The EPP is in favor of the EU-US trade agreement, but given Donald Trump’s threats regarding Greenland, approval is not possible at this time,” Manfred Weber, president of the EPP, said in a statement. “The 0% tariffs on American products must be suspended,” he added.
According to information from the Italian newspaper il Fatto Quotidiano, the leader of S&D, Iratxe García Pérez, also confirmed the suspension of ratification of the agreement.
“The 25% tariffs imposed by Trump on allies who support Greenland against his imperialist threats are unacceptable. We must act immediately: suspend negotiations on the EU-US trade agreement and activate the anti-coercion instrument. The EU will not give in to intimidation,” said the Spanish MEP.
Over the weekend, Trump announced tariffs against eight allied countries, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland, that oppose the American annexation of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
Starting February 1, Washington will charge a 10% tariff on all exports from these countries to the United States, a rate that will be raised to 25% on June 1, “until an agreement is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland” by the Americans, wrote Trump, who alleges national security reasons for seeking to annex the Arctic island.
Trump’s announcement sparked outrage among affected countries, which are considering triggering the so-called “trade bazooka”, a series of retaliations that could include partially blocking US access to European markets and export controls.
This Tuesday (20), the American president also threatened to impose a 200% tariff on French wines and champagne, due to the Emmanuel Macron government’s refusal to join the Peace Council for the Gaza Strip.
