MEPs need cast-iron “guarantees” that the Trump administration will not be able to renege on its promises before they can agree to sign off the EU-US trade deal, the parliament’s lead negotiator has told EUobserver in an interview.
Speaking with EUobserver ahead of crunch negotiations with EU ministers and the European Commission on Tuesday (19 May), Bernd Lange, the German social democrat who has chaired the international trade committee since 2014, stated that “we need guarantees ensuring that tariffs will not exceed 15 percent”.
Despite being pressured by the commission for a quick sign off on the EU-US trade agreement struck by Ursula von der Leyen and president Trump last summer, MEPs have insisted on a series of safeguards, the agreement of which is at the heart of the trilogue talks.
These include a review clause and the prospect of suspending the removal of tariffs on US goods if Washington were to impose additional tariffs exceeding the agreed 15-percent ceiling, or any new duties on EU goods.
The proposed new regime will also depend on the US keeping its word to lower its tariffs on EU products with a steel and aluminium content below 50 percent to a maximum of 15 percent.
