BRUSSELS: The European Parliament is considering delaying the implementation of a key European Union trade agreement with the United States amid growing political unease over remarks by US President Donald Trump about taking control of Greenland.
The parliament has been reviewing legislation to remove many EU import duties on American goods, a central element of the trade deal, and to extend zero tariffs on US lobster imports, an arrangement first agreed in 2020. Lawmakers were due to vote on the package on January 26 and 27, but momentum is building to postpone the decision.
Senior members of the parliament’s cross-party trade committee met on Wednesday to discuss the issue, though no final decision was taken. The committee agreed to reconvene next week, reflecting divisions within the chamber. Parliamentary sources said left-leaning and centrist groups are increasingly supportive of measures such as delaying the vote.
Pressure intensified after 23 lawmakers wrote to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, urging her to freeze work on the agreement as long as the US administration continues to make threats regarding Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The letter argued that approving the deal under these circumstances would be seen as rewarding aggressive political behavior.
The signatories, mainly from the Left Group but also including Social Democrats and Greens, questioned the value of the deal itself. Green lawmaker Anna Cavazzini said stability was the only argument in favor of the agreement, adding that Trump’s approach repeatedly undermined that goal. Renew Europe leader Valerie Hayer also warned that the EU should consider delaying a vote if the threats persist.
Critics argue the deal is unbalanced, requiring the EU to slash most tariffs while the US maintains a general 15 percent rate. However, shelving the agreement risks provoking retaliation from Washington, including higher tariffs, as the Trump administration has ruled out any concessions until the deal is approved.
