EU-US Trade Agreement Approval Stalls Over Safeguard Concerns

The European Union’s trade agreement with the United States, reached last year, faces a stalemate in the EU’s internal approval process, according to reports from May 7. The European Parliament opposes rushed ratification of the agreement, citing the need for stronger safeguard mechanisms in response to threats and inconsistent positions from the Trump administration.

Trilateral Negotiations

Representatives from the European Parliament, EU Commission, and EU Council held a trilateral meeting on May 6 lasting six hours to discuss implementation of the EU-US trade agreement. According to the EU Commission, the talks achieved “progress,” though the parties did not reach a breakthrough on key issues.

European Parliament Position

The European Parliament has signaled resistance to approving the agreement without adequate protections. The parliament’s stance reflects concerns about the stability of the U.S. negotiating position and the need for safeguard mechanisms to protect European interests.

Next Steps

The next round of negotiations between the three EU bodies is scheduled for May 19, according to the reports. The May 6 meeting underscores the complexity of reaching consensus on the trade agreement across EU institutions.