European officials expressed concern about US President Donald Trump‘s recent declaration of a 15% global import tax and its potential implications for the trade agreement established earlier this summer. As a result, EU legislators have decided to pause the ratification process of the deal until they receive the necessary clarifications.
“The ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States of 20 February 2026 on the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) is clear and unequivocal. Its implications cannot be ignored, and business as usual is not an option,” Bernd Lange, chair of Parliament’s International Trade Committee and standing rapporteur for the US, stated.
The European Parliament’s trade committee has postponed its scheduled vote on ratification following President Trump’s announcement of new tariffs, made in the context of the US Supreme Court’s ruling that invalidated his reliance on emergency powers to impose new import taxes. Subsequently, President Trump cited an alternative section of trade law to justify implementing the 15% global rate, which is set to take effect on Tuesday.
The EU position is expressed in five words: “A deal is a deal,” said commission spokesman Olof Gill. “So now we are simply saying to the US, it is up to you to clearly show us what path you are taking to honour the agreement.”
The recent US-EU agreement has introduced a 15% tariff cap on a majority of European goods imports, while simultaneously lowering tariffs on US industrial goods to zero. Although this adjustment represents an increase from the previous average tariff rate of 4.8%, it has provided businesses with the necessary certainty for planning and operations—an important factor credited with helping Europe avert a recession last year.
It is important to note that the new 15% rate, announced on Saturday, would be applied in addition to existing tariffs, thereby exceeding the previously agreed-upon cap. Bernd Lange, chair of the parliament’s trade committee, highlighted this issue. Consequently, legislators have decided to postpone the committee vote on the agreement that was scheduled for Tuesday.
Additionally, questions have emerged regarding trade deals negotiated with individual countries such as Brazil, India, and the United Kingdom. For instance, the UK has agreed to a maximum tariff of 10% with the US, while India has settled on 18%, and Vietnam has accepted 20%. Although the recent Supreme Court decision did not directly influence these bilateral agreements, the negotiations were conducted under the threat of enacting the now-invalidated tariffs as leverage. Nevertheless, reopening these deals could pose risks, as there are indications that the administration may pursue tariffs under alternative legal frameworks.
US Trade Representative Jamison Greer stated on CBS’s “Face the Nation“ that President Trump was committed to imposing tariffs, regardless of a Supreme Court ruling. He asserted, “Whether we won or lost, there were going to be tariffs,“ and reiterated that the bilateral trade deals will be upheld.
Economist Atakan Bakiskan from Berenberg Bank noted that moving to a flat 15% global tariff will have significant consequences, offering Brazil a nearly 15% reduction and China a nearly 10% reduction.
These tariffs are set to last for only 150 days unless Congress votes to extend them, giving Trump time to seek additional legal support. While this uncertainty impacts European companies, it also strains the US economy, as consumers and businesses pay the tariffs on imported goods. Bakiskan remarked that trade policy uncertainty is likely to persist, continuing to pressure the US economy.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
