EPP pushes to advance the next round of discussions to implement the EU-US trade deal, but Socialist chair Lange insists on keeping 19 May as the date for the next negotiating round, according to people familiar with the matter.
The EU-US trade deal is driving a wedge between the two largest groups in the European Parliament — the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) — after the latest attempt to implement the agreement failed last week.
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In recent days, the EPP has tried to bring forward the next round of talks between the European Parliament and EU member states to fine-tune the details of the deal.
However, Bernd Lange, the German Socialist MEP who chairs the Trade Committee, rejected the request and insisted on keeping 19 May as the date for the next negotiating round, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Euronews.
US President Donald Trump has given the Europeans until 4 July to finalise the agreement, which would reduce EU tariffs on US goods to zero and cap US tariffs at 15%, in line with the deal agreed last summer in Turnberry by Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Although MEPs broadly expect a positive outcome before Trump’s deadline, the disagreement over the timing of the next talks highlights differing views among political groups on the urgency of the situation.
The EPP argues that European businesses need certainty over trade relations with the US as soon as possible, warning that any further delay could pose risks to industry.
The party also points to Donald Trump’s increasing pressure on Europe, including threats to impose 25% tariffs on European cars and trucks if the EU fails to implement the deal.
The S&D, meanwhile, does not want to give in to pressure, particularly in light of recent US court rulings against the global tariffs imposed by Trump.
“The latest developments show that it was right for us to stand firm against the American campaign of threats. European legislation must not be shaped by threatening social media posts from Washington,” Lange said in a recent press release.
He argued that EU democratic procedures are “not negotiable” and rejected US criticism that Europe is moving too slowly.
“Delays were caused by the irresponsible actions of President Trump, for example regarding his demand for the annexation of Greenland. His claim that we Europeans are failing to meet our obligations is simply false,” he said.