The European Parliament has suspended its work on ratifying a trade agreement with the United States, in direct response to President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on several European countries over their opposition to his push to acquire Greenland.
The agreement in question — often referred to as the Turnberry Deal — was reached last July (2025) between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Trump's golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland. It aimed to stabilize transatlantic trade by capping U.S. tariffs on most EU goods at around 15% (down from higher threatened levels) and providing mutual benefits, including zero tariffs on certain U.S. industrial exports.
However, recent developments derailed progress toward formal ratification. Trump has repeatedly demanded U.S. control or purchase of Greenland (a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark), escalating to threats of 10% tariffs (potentially rising to 25%) on exports from eight nations — including Denmark, France, Germany, the UK, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands — unless they agree to his demands regarding Greenland.
In response, the European Parliament's trade committee, led by chair Bernd Lange, blocked a planned vote and indefinitely froze proceedings on the deal. Lange stated that the U.S. threats undermine the stability and predictability of EU-U.S. trade relations, violate the spirit of the agreement, and attack the territorial integrity and sovereignty of an EU ally (Denmark). The Parliament emphasized it will not proceed until the threats cease and cooperation resumes.
This move reflects broader European outrage, with leaders considering retaliatory measures — such as activating the EU's "anti-coercion instrument" — amid fears of a potential trade war and strains on the NATO alliance.
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