U.S. Tariffs: the EU engages in dialogue and asks for guarantees. In the meantime, postpones implementation of July agreement

Brussels – Dialogue to find guarantees, agreements, and clarity, while at the same time applying pressure. On the issue of tariffs, the European Union is playing on two fronts: on the one hand, the Commission is negotiating, while on the other, the Parliament is delaying a vote on the legal texts implementing the agreement reached last July. The EU institutions are each proceeding in their own direction, which only appears to be different and contradictory. Determination and firmness are shown toward the Trump administration, along with a willingness that cannot be taken for granted.

“It is our intention to respect the agreement reached with the United States and continue to implement it,” emphasises Olof Gill, the European Commission spokesperson responsible for trade issues, the first to speak in the EU capital. However, he adds, “more clarity is needed” about the current situation. The import ruling by the US Supreme Court, which rejected the tariffs sought by the US president, and Donald Trump’s new statements on new tariffs  are causing confusion. “We need more to get a clear picture” of the state of play, the spokesperson continues. “Full clarity is the minimum we need to be able to assess the situation,” he insists.

This is precisely why Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic is working tirelessly, across the board, to produce an orderly response to what has happened in the area of tariffs. Today (23 February), he held talks with ministers from Member States, and tomorrow (24 February), he will meet with members of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, which, given the circumstances, has chosen not to make concessions to its transatlantic counterpart, putting the ratification of the agreement with the United States on hold.

Now official: EP work on EU-US deal is on hold until further notice!
Our negotiating team just decided to put on hold @ep_trade legal implementation of Turnberry deal&postone vote foreseen for tomorrow.
Clarity&legal certainty are needed before any further steps can be taken

— Bernd Lange (@berndlange) 23 February 2026

“Work on the EU-US agreement is suspended until further notice,” announced the chairman of the parliamentary committee, German socialist Bernd Lange. This does not mean that the agreement has been rejected, but only that the legislative process has been postponed. It is a strong political message to Donald Trump’s United States, which is now being asked to provide guarantees and useful elements to break the political and legal deadlock that is entirely of American origin. “Before we can take further steps, we need the necessary clarity and legal certainty,” the MEP also reiterated.

“We cannot vote on the agreement until we can expect to obtain real predictability in return,” echoed Karin Karlsbro, vice-chair of the same committee and coordinator of the European Liberals (RE) in the committee. “This level of chaos is not serious,” but that does not change the fact that “the United States must put its trade policy back in order.” However, EPP chief negotiator Željana Zovko urges that the decision should not be turned into a boomerang: “A short and strictly technical postponement could be acceptable to ensure full legal clarity,” she stresses. However, “this must not become a pretext for reopening the substance of the agreement or prolonging uncertainty for our businesses and citizens,” she adds. Translated: the EU prefers to return to the 15 per cent tariff agreement rather than engage in trade disputes or new negotiations.

With a Commission that engages in dialogue and a Parliament that slows things down, there is a Council that is considering how to manage the situation. An extraordinary meeting of the ambassadors of Member States has been convened precisely to discuss trade relations with the US and tariffs. The objective remains twofold: to defend an agreement desired by the capitals at all costs, even at the expense of the image of the President of the European Commission, and to avoid proceeding in a disorderly manner.