By The South Asia Times

BRUSSELS - The European Parliament on Monday halted its work on approving a proposed EU-US trade agreement after fresh tariff threats by Donald Trump reignited tensions between Brussels and Washington.

Bernd Lange, chair of the parliament’s trade committee, announced the decision on the social media platform X, saying lawmakers would suspend all legal and procedural steps related to the so-called “Turnberry deal” until further notice.

“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," Lange said on X.

The move follows a renewed escalation in Washington’s tariff policy. President Trump recently pledged to increase a previously announced 10 percent blanket tariff on global imports to 15 percent, despite a ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that had struck down earlier tariff hikes.

On Monday, Trump further warned that countries attempting to “play games” with the United States could face even steeper duties, according to Anadolu.

- EU-US trade tensions 

Trade relations between the European Union and the United States have been strained for years, particularly over tariffs on steel, aluminum, and a range of industrial goods.

During Trump’s earlier term imposed tariffs on European steel and aluminum, citing national security concerns. The EU responded with retaliatory duties on American products, including motorcycles, bourbon, and agricultural goods.

Although subsequent negotiations led to temporary suspensions and tariff-rate quotas under the Biden administration, underlying disputes over subsidies, digital taxes, and industrial policy persisted.

The latest tariff threats risk reopening those fault lines at a time when both sides are grappling with slower economic growth and geopolitical pressures. European officials have repeatedly warned that unilateral US tariff increases could trigger countermeasures, potentially setting off another transatlantic trade confrontation.

With the European Parliament’s decision to freeze work on the agreement, prospects for swift approval of a renewed EU-US trade framework now appear uncertain, raising concerns among businesses on both sides of the Atlantic about further instability in transatlantic commerce.