European lawmakers have paused the approval process for the EU–U.S. trade agreement reached in July, introducing fresh uncertainty into transatlantic economic relations at a moment of heightened geopolitical sensitivity. The decision reflects growing concern in Brussels over recent policy signals from Washington that European officials say conflict with the spirit and commitments of the negotiated pact.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Bernd Lange, a member of the European Parliament and chair of the International Trade Committee overseeing EU–U.S. trade relations, the suspension is directly linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent plans to impose tariffs ranging from 10 percent to 25 percent on European countries. Lange indicated that these tariff proposals contradict the terms and underlying trust of the July trade deal. He further referred to the president’s address at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier the same day, where Trump reiterated his interest in the acquisition of Greenland and called for immediate negotiations on the Arctic territory. Lange noted that the president appeared not to have changed his position on the matter, while acknowledging that Trump had ruled out the use of military force, which Lange characterized as a limited positive signal amid broader concerns.
Greenland acquisition proposal and tariff threats reshape transatlantic trade climate
Lange stated that, despite the absence of a military threat, the continued prospect of significant U.S. tariffs leaves no room for compromise from the European Parliament’s perspective. He explained that the approval procedure for the EU–U.S. trade deal would remain on hold until there is clarity regarding both the Greenland issue and the tariff threats. In his assessment, the use of tariffs as leverage was being employed as a form of political pressure connected to the Greenland proposal. Lange described this approach as an attack on the economic and territorial sovereignty of the European Union, underscoring the seriousness with which European institutions view the matter.
The developments highlight how trade policy, territorial questions, and political signaling have become increasingly intertwined. While the original trade agreement was intended to stabilize and deepen EU–U.S. economic ties, the current impasse illustrates the fragility of such efforts when broader strategic disputes intervene. The information in this report is based on Lange’s official statement as chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee and on President Trump’s verified remarks delivered at the World Economic Forum in Davos.