Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Fresh Uncertainty
European Parliament negotiators have suspended work on the EU-US trade agreement following a US Supreme Court ruling that declared some of Washington’s 2025 tariffs illegal. The decision prompted President Donald Trump to announce new 15% import duties, throwing the future of the deal into doubt.
German MEP Bernd Lange, who chairs the parliamentary trade committee, said the legal landscape has fundamentally shifted. With new tariffs replacing the old framework, he argued, lawmakers need clear assurances from Washington that the agreement will be respected over the long term.
Parliament Holds the Final Say
The trade pact was brokered in July 2025 by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump after weeks of tense negotiations. The deal fixed US tariffs on EU exports at 15% while granting most American goods tariff-free access to the European market — a balance many in Europe viewed as uneven.
Although a parliamentary vote had been scheduled, it has now been shelved. This is not the first delay: lawmakers previously froze the agreement when Trump threatened tariffs over Greenland. While discussions had resumed, the latest developments have once again halted progress.
EU Seeks Clarity from Washington
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič met with parliamentary negotiators after holding talks with US Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. He stressed that Brussels needs firm confirmation that the 15% tariff arrangement will be upheld, emphasizing that “a deal is a deal.”
Šefčovič also consulted G7 counterparts in an effort to calm escalating tensions. He expressed hope that the European Parliament could still vote on the agreement during its March plenary session, but much depends on Washington’s next move.
Since returning to office, Trump has pushed an assertive trade agenda aimed at boosting domestic industry and increasing federal revenues. However, the Supreme Court ruled that some of his tariff measures exceeded presidential authority, as they were imposed without Congressional approval under legislation intended for national emergencies — a decision that has now cast a long shadow over the transatlantic trade truce.
