EU-US Trade Deal on Hold Amidst Novel Trump Tariffs
Brussels, February 24, 2026 – The European Union is reassessing its recently negotiated trade agreement with the United States after President Donald Trump announced a new round of global tariffs, raising concerns about a breach of the accord reached last summer. The European Parliament has paused the ratification process, seeking clarification from Washington on how the new tariffs will impact the existing agreement.
Supreme Court Ruling and Trump’s Response
The situation escalated following a U.S. Supreme Court decision on Friday that struck down previous tariffs. In response, President Trump announced a new global tariff of 15 percent, invoking Section 122 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974. This move has triggered alarm within the EU, which fears the new tariffs could undermine the terms of the “Turnberry accord.” [Politico]
EU Concerns and Calls for Clarification
The EU believes the new tariffs, if applied on top of existing most-favored-nation rates, would violate the Turnberry agreement, which established an “all-inclusive” tariff of no more than 15 percent on most goods. The European Commission has formally requested clarification from the U.S. Regarding the implications of these new measures. [RBC-Ukraine]
“Additional clarity is necessary. We ask for full clarity on what the new developments imply for the commercial relationship between the European Union and the United States. It is absolutely the minimum that the Union asks to be able to make an objective evaluation of the next steps to follow,” stated an EU trade spokesperson. [RBC-Ukraine]
Parliamentary Response and Potential Suspension
The European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, responsible for voting on the ratification of the pact, is considering a suspension of the process. Lawmakers are seeking assurances from the United States regarding its commitment to the agreed-upon tariff limits. [Informat]
Bernd Lange, chair of Parliament’s International Trade Committee, emphasized that a key instrument used in the negotiation and implementation of the Turnberry Deal is no longer available due to the Supreme Court ruling, creating significant uncertainty. [RBC-Ukraine]
Previous Suspension and Greenland Tensions
This is not the first time the ratification process has been paused. In the recent past, the European Parliament briefly froze the ratification due to tensions surrounding Greenland and potential tariffs on European countries. The process was reactivated when the White House withdrew threats of additional tariffs related to the Arctic island. [Informat]
Looking Ahead
The European Parliament will reassess the situation next week after further analysis. The future of the EU-US trade agreement hinges on receiving satisfactory clarification from the United States and restoring stability and predictability to transatlantic trade relations. [RBC-Ukraine]