The European Parliament, during a plenary session in Strasbourg. Photo: Antonin UTZ / SIPA Press / Profimedia
The European Parliament is pressure to change the commercial agreement concluded at the end of July by the EU and the US, which risks creating new tensions, just when Brussels tries to stabilize tense relations with President Donald Trump, writes Bloomberg, cites Agerpres.
According to sources near this file, MEPs are pressuring for the introduction of a caducity clause that would limit the duration of tariff discounts for American industrial goods and to adjust taxes for certain products.
The European Commission, the Community Executive, who negotiated the July agreement, sent the requests of the Member States this week, the sources quoted by Bloomberg said.
The agreement between the EU and the US has introduced a 15% rate for most EU exports to the US, while the block agreed to eliminate taxes for US industrial goods. Almost all parliamentary groups have criticized the terms of the agreement as being unbalanced.
However, the pressures of the MEPs for rectification could delay the ratification of the agreement and could endanger the whole agreement. The Commission considers the agreement as essential for restoring links with the Trump administration and for opening the road for wider cooperation in the field of security and energy.
“Let us not abolish the agreement”
This week, the European Trade Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, told Strasbourg MEPs that the Community Executive is ready to collaborate with the Parliament for improvements. “Constructive solutions can be found,” said Sefcovic, launching an alarm signal against movements that could cancel the agreement. “The agreement could be improved. But let's be reasonable, let's be responsible and let's work in a way that does not abolish the agreement,” said Sefcovic.
MEPs and officials have stated that the purpose is not to block the agreement, but to obtain changes before giving their agreement.
The members of the European Parliament also expressed their concern about the list of over 400 products that were included in the area of 50% punitive tariffs.
Sefcovic told Parliament's plenary that he was discussing with the US Secretary of Trade, Howard Lutnick, on the list of derivatives and that he pleads for lower rates for wine, beer and spirits.
The MEP Kathleen Van Brempt said that although the conditions of the Parliament are not yet “clear as the crystal”, a caducity clause and measures to protect the jobs and industries in Europe could be part of the changes you will try to obtain. “We will improve the agreement, this is the advantage we have and we will use,” said Kathleen van Brempt to a group of journalists.
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