European Parliament pauses EU-US trade deal ratification amid tariff uncertainty

The European Parliament has paused its ratification process for the EU-US trade deal agreed last July in Scotland, postponing a scheduled vote in its International Trade Committee as uncertainty grows over new US tariffs announced by President Donald Trump.

The delay comes as EU officials and lawmakers question whether Washington is still adhering to the terms of the agreement after Trump introduced a new tariff regime following a US Supreme Court ruling that struck down a previous set of broad duties.

Trade committee postpones vote as lawmakers cite “enormous uncertainty”

The Trade Committee’s planned vote for Tuesday morning was postponed after lawmakers raised concerns that the current US tariff stance could conflict with the deal’s framework.

Anna Cavazzini, the Greens/EFA group’s trade policy spokesperson, said a vote would be unjustifiable while “enormous uncertainty” persists. She argued that tariffs now applied to EU exports are above 15%, which she said would breach the agreement, and criticised what she described as repeated tariff announcements from Trump.

Cavazzini also said the priority should be resolving the remaining 50% US tariffs on steel, aluminium and related products, warning that the measures have not delivered the industrial jobs promised by the US president.

Brussels presses Washington for clarity on whether the deal still stands

The European Commission has said it needs clarity from the United States on how the new tariff measures will be applied and whether the commitments made last summer will be honoured.

In a statement carried by Reuters, the Commission underscored that it would not accept an increase in US tariffs beyond agreed terms, framing the issue as a matter of credibility for transatlantic trade commitments.

US trade chief says agreements remain in place

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said agreements already reached with trading partners remain in place, while the administration adjusts the legal basis for tariff actions following the Supreme Court decision.

The new US approach has heightened concerns among businesses about how quickly rules could change at the border and whether exemptions or product-specific arrangements will be maintained.

Steel and aluminium tariffs remain a central sticking point

The postponed vote highlights continuing political pressure inside the EU over sector-specific duties, particularly on steel and aluminium, where US tariffs of 50% have been cited by lawmakers as unresolved.

European Parliament officials have indicated they will reassess the timing of ratification steps once there is greater certainty on the US tariff schedule and how it will be applied to EU exports under the deal agreed last summer.