The European Parliament’s trade committee in a political split has postponed a decision on whether to resume ratification procedures for the controversial EU-US trade agreement until February 4, resisting pressure from the European Council and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to greenlight the deal immediately.
The July 2025 agreement, which critics have labeled largely one-sided, commits Europe to $750 billion in US energy purchases and $600 billion in investment and accepts a 15% tariff on EU exports in exchange for avoiding higher American tariffs. Von der Leyen had promised the arrangement would deliver “predictability and stability” to transatlantic relations—though it has yet to do so.
Political split stalls ratification
At Monday’s meeting it is reported that the European People’s Party (EPP), European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), and Patriots for Europe groups pushed to resume legislative procedures, but were rebuffed by Socialists, Renew Europe, the Left, and Greens. The Parliament’s negotiating team will reconvene Wednesday to reassess the situation ahead of the trade committee’s February 23-24 session.
The delay represents a significant setback for von der Leyen and Parliament Speaker Roberta Metsola, who had moved to schedule a ratification vote following last week’s European Council summit. National leaders signaled to the Parliament to unfreeze the deal after Trump temporarily walked back threats to impose 25% tariffs on EU countries deploying troops near Greenland and on pursuing the occupation of Greenland.
According to journalist Dave Keating, MEPs from the left argue that rushing to ratify the agreement now—when Trump has repeatedly undermined the relationship—would signal European weakness rather than strength.
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Keating reports that center-left, liberal, and green lawmakers have also pointed to the experiences of China, Brazil, and India, which refused to make preemptive concessions and ultimately avoided tariffs.
Socialists and Democrats group don’t hold back
The Socialists and Democrats group’s public statement rebuked Metsola’s handling of the process:
“We remind the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, that any decision to freeze or to reactivate negotiations on the EU-US trade agreement must be taken on the basis of broad consensus within the political groups. The President represents the voice of the entire Parliament—not solely that of the EPP, nor of the European Commission, nor of the Council.”
With Parliament approval now on hold until at least early February, the July agreement remains frozen, meaning no reduction in tariffs on European imports to the United States.
The February 4 meeting will test whether opposition groups can maintain their resistance as pressure from the Council, Commission, and center-right intensifies to salvage von der Leyen’s attempt at creating transatlantic stability.
