EU postpones vote on US trade deal

23rd Feb 2026 14:46

(Sharecast News) - The European Parliament has postponed a planned vote on the EU's trade agreement with the US following Donald Trump's decision to impose a blanket 15% import tariff, according to parliamentary sources cite by Reuters.

Lawmakers were due to consider proposals to remove a range of EU duties on US goods as part of the deal agreed upon last July, as well as the continuation of zero tariffs on US lobsters first introduced in 2020.

The vote, scheduled for Tuesday, has now been delayed for a second time, with MEPs previously halting work on the agreement in response to Trump's demands to acquire Greenland and threats of additional tariffs on European allies that opposed the plan.

Some lawmakers have previously argued the deal was unbalanced, with the EU required to cut most of its import duties while the US maintains a broad 15% rate.

Even so, there have also been signs of conditional support, including proposals for an 18‑month sunset clause and safeguards against potential surges in US imports.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com