Finance
EU lawmakers again postpone vote on US trade deal after tariff upheaval
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 23, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 23, 2026
Quick Summary
EU lawmakers postponed a vote on the EU-US trade deal after a Supreme Court ruling and a new 15% US import duty. They cite legal uncertainty and an uneven pact.
By Philip Blenkinsop
BRUSSELS, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The European Parliament decided on Monday to postpone for a second time a vote on the European Union's trade deal with the United States after U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of a new blanket 15% import tariff.
The EU assembly has been debating legislative proposals to remove many EU import duties on U.S. goods, a key part of the deal struck in Turnberry, Scotland, last July, as well as to continue zero duties for U.S. lobsters, initially agreed with Trump in 2020. The proposals require approval by the parliament and EU governments.
Parliament's trade committee has now postponed a vote planned for Tuesday. Bernd Lange, the committee chair, said the new temporary U.S. tariff could mean increased levies for some EU exports and no one knew what would happen after they expire in 150 days. EU lawmakers will reconvene on March 4 to assess if the United States had clarified the situation and confirmed its commitment to last year's deal.
This is the second such suspension by lawmakers, who last month halted their work on the deal in protest at Trump's demands to acquire Greenland.
Many lawmakers have complained that the deal itself is lopsided. However, they had appeared willing to accept it, albeit with conditions, such as an 18-month sunset clause and measures to respond to possible surges of U.S. imports.
The trade deal sets a 15% U.S. tariff rate for most EU goods, apart from those covered by other sectoral tariffs such as on steel, with zero tariffs on some products such as aircraft and spare parts. The EU committed to remove import duties on many U.S. goods.
It is not clear whether Trump's new 15% tariff supersedes the deal. If it does, the EU's zero tariff exemptions could disappear. The new tariffs could also be placed on top of pre-existing 'most-favoured-nation' U.S. duties, which is not the case under the EU-U.S. deal. So for some cheeses, the new 15% surcharge could bring the overall tariff to about 30%.
Lange said this could mean some 7-8% of EU products facing tariffs above the rates agreed last year.
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Julia Payne; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Hugh Lawson)
Key Takeaways
- •European Parliament postponed a committee vote on the EU-US trade deal after a new blanket 15% US import duty.
- •The delay follows a Supreme Court ruling that struck down prior broad tariffs, adding legal uncertainty.
- •Lawmakers argue the pact is unbalanced: EU cuts most duties while the US keeps a 15% rate on many EU exports.
- •This marks a second suspension; an earlier pause followed disputes over Greenland and tariff threats.
- •Members had considered conditions such as an 18-month sunset clause and safeguards against import surges.
Frequently Asked Questions about EU lawmakers again postpone vote on US trade deal after tariff upheaval
1What is the main topic?
EU lawmakers postponed a vote on the EU-US trade deal after the US imposed a blanket 15% import duty following a Supreme Court ruling, creating legal and political uncertainty.
2Why was the vote postponed?
A Supreme Court decision upended the legal basis for prior tariffs, and a new 15% duty was imposed. Lawmakers say the terms look lopsided and want clarity before proceeding.
3What could happen next?
The trade committee may reschedule once there is legal clarity. Conditions under discussion include a time-limited sunset clause and safeguards against sudden import surges.
