In reaction to President Donald Trump’s threats to take over Greenland, the European Parliament decided to suspend the ratification of trade deals with the US, as tensions between the Europeans and the United States continue to rise.
There is a “majority agreement” among political groups in the European Parliament to freeze a trade agreement reached last year between the European Union and the United States, the president of the Socialists and Democrats group, Iratxe Garcia Perez, told reporters.
The European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, confirmed the suspension of discussions on the agreement concluded last summer. The deal includes a 15% tariff on European exports to the United States, while removing tariffs on U.S. exports to the EU.
EPP leader Manfred Weber said preventing U.S. companies from accessing the European market tariff-free would be “a very powerful tool.” Valerie Hayer, president of the centrist Renew Europe group, echoed that view, saying she did not believe businesses would be willing to abandon access to the EU market.
By contrast, part of the far right opposed freezing the agreement. “We believe this is a mistake,” said Nicola Procaccini, co-chair of the eurosceptic European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group. However, the Patriots group, chaired by French lawmaker Jordan Bardella, said it supported the “suspension” of the deal.
Freezing discussions in the European Parliament effectively blocks ratification and, therefore, the implementation of the agreement.
Political groups remain divided over how the EU should respond to threats by Donald Trump. The EPP called for “de-escalation” and rejected activating the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), which could allow the bloc to restrict U.S. companies’ access to EU public procurement. Procaccini also opposed using the mechanism.
Other political groups in the European Parliament support activating the ACI, often referred to as Europe’s “economic bazooka.”
Media attention was drawn to a speech by Danish lawmaker Anders Vistisen, who strongly criticised Trump over his comments linking U.S. national security to the acquisition of Greenland. Vistisen used offensive language in his remarks, which sparked reactions among lawmakers and observers.
