EU Lawmakers Postpone Trade Deal Vote Amid US Tariff Threats Over Greenland
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Brussels, European lawmakers have suspended their work on the EU-US trade deal over President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on eight European nations opposed to his plans to annex Greenland.
The proposal for the trade agreement, which was agreed upon in July at Turnberry, Scotland, would see most EU duties eliminated on US imports, with the exception of lobster. However, EU lawmakers had been growing increasingly frustrated with the lopsided terms of the deal, which they claimed favored the US over Europe.
Just days before a key vote on the proposal, Trump announced that he would impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on eight European countries that have opposed his plans for Greenland. The move has sent a clear message that the US will not be intimidated by EU opposition and has put pressure on Brussels to reconsider its stance on the trade deal.
As a result, the chair of the EU's trade committee Bernd Lange announced that the vote would be postponed until further notice, citing Trump's threats as a major factor in the decision. The move has sparked concern among EU lawmakers who fear that freezing the deal could lead to higher US tariffs and undermine trust between the two sides.
The situation has also raised concerns about the implications for spirits and steel imports, which are set to be subject to reduced tariffs under the original agreement. With the Trump administration ruling out any concessions until the deal is in place, it remains to be seen whether a compromise can be reached that satisfies both parties.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Brussels, European lawmakers have suspended their work on the EU-US trade deal over President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on eight European nations opposed to his plans to annex Greenland.
The proposal for the trade agreement, which was agreed upon in July at Turnberry, Scotland, would see most EU duties eliminated on US imports, with the exception of lobster. However, EU lawmakers had been growing increasingly frustrated with the lopsided terms of the deal, which they claimed favored the US over Europe.
Just days before a key vote on the proposal, Trump announced that he would impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on eight European countries that have opposed his plans for Greenland. The move has sent a clear message that the US will not be intimidated by EU opposition and has put pressure on Brussels to reconsider its stance on the trade deal.
As a result, the chair of the EU's trade committee Bernd Lange announced that the vote would be postponed until further notice, citing Trump's threats as a major factor in the decision. The move has sparked concern among EU lawmakers who fear that freezing the deal could lead to higher US tariffs and undermine trust between the two sides.
The situation has also raised concerns about the implications for spirits and steel imports, which are set to be subject to reduced tariffs under the original agreement. With the Trump administration ruling out any concessions until the deal is in place, it remains to be seen whether a compromise can be reached that satisfies both parties.
. I mean, I remember back in 2017 when Trump was all like "USA First" and now he's threatening tariffs on Europe if we don't agree to some super unfair terms 
. I'm not surprised that the EU lawmakers are frustrated, but postpone the vote? That's just a big deal 
. I was hoping they'd just be all like "Hey, let's work something out" instead of giving in to Trump's tantrums 
. Now I'm worried about those spirits and steel imports getting all messed up 
? Anyway, I guess we'll just have to wait and see if anyone can talk Trump down from this ledge 
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anyway, gotta give em credit, at least they're not just rolling over like the usual suspects... btw, 25% tariffs on europe? that's like, a huge deal 
and lobster's still getting stuck with all the extra duties? what's up with that?
And what's with the whole Greenland thing? Can we not just focus on the economy and stop playing politics all over the place? 
Anyway, this is definitely going to make things more complicated... fingers crossed someone can come up with a decent compromise soon 
what if that leads to more tariffs and stuff? 
I mean, can't we just have a chill conversation about this instead of playing hardball? 
It's like they think we're all shaking in our boots over this one. Newsflash: EU trade policies are not that weak. We've got a strong economy and diverse industries that can withstand a little pressure from the US.
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so this is what happens when you try to make a trade deal with someone who thinks they're above all rules... like trump's threat to impose tariffs on 8 EU countries over Greenland is just mind-blowing 
and the EU just wants to protect their own interests, who can blame them? 
i mean, if it was me in their shoes, i'd be pretty annoyed too 
. But now they're stuck in the middle because of Trump's tantrum.
and now EU lawmakers are being held hostage by his tariff threats? that's just ridiculous. i mean i get it, they wanted more concessions but a 25% tariff on eu imports is straight up extortion. dont think europe can just sit back and take this lying down tho. gotta keep pushing for better terms or else who knows what other crazy stuff trumps comes up with 
did anyone even check if Greenland actually wants to be annexed in the first place? 
They'll just find another partner or something. And let's be real, those EU nations are right to push back on a deal that's clearly skewed in favor of the US. 
hoping both sides can find common ground tho 
. I mean, come on, who doesn't want to see more trade deals and less tariffs? It's like, we're already living in an era where global connectivity is on the rise, so it's kinda weird that there are still these huge hurdles to overcome. And now, with Trump threatening those tariffs over Greenland... ouch 