• The European Parliament's International Trade Committee (INTA) is likely to postpone a vote on the EU-U.S. trade agreement due to uncertainty from a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling limiting emergency tariff powers.
  • The delay stems from shifts in terms and legal basis, with the EU awaiting U.S. details on new tariff scope amid global trade instability, affecting businesses facing prolonged uncertainty on tariffs.
  • INTA chair Bernd Lange proposed suspending work until a full legal review and firmer U.S. commitments, with EU Trade Commissioner spokesperson Olof Gill confirming a "mature assessment" freeze until U.S. intentions clarify via ongoing talks.

Efforts to finalize the EU-U.S. trade deal have hit a snag, as the European Parliament's International Trade Committee (INTA) is very likely to delay a vote on legislative files for the agreement reached at Turnberry, Scotland, last year. This follows statements from INTA press officer Lieven Cosijn and chair Bernd Lange on February 23, 2026, with negotiators deciding during meetings on whether to proceed. The vote, initially set for February 23-24, faces postponement as political groups assess U.S. tariff changes post-Supreme Court decision, seen as a setback to President Trump's strategy.

No vote occurred as planned, potentially delaying Parliament's formal position before Council negotiations. According to people familiar with the matter, the delay stems from shifts in terms and legal basis, with the EU awaiting U.S. details on new tariff scope amid global trade instability. The deal addresses U.S. tariffs creating "chaos and uncertainty," affecting product groups, and businesses now face prolonged uncertainty on tariffs, with stakeholders in export sectors awaiting clarity.

INTA chair Lange proposed suspending work until full legal review and firmer U.S. commitments, with EU engaging U.S. counterparts amid domestic instability to avoid rushed approval. EU Trade Commissioner spokesperson Olof Gill confirmed a "mature assessment" freeze until U.S. intentions clarify via ongoing talks, emphasizing the need to wait for U.S. stability. Efforts to reach out to U.S. trade officials for comment were unsuccessful, but sources indicate that EU-U.S. talks continue post-weekend contacts, paralleling U.S. internal tariff debates following the Supreme Court ruling.

Short-term, the vote delay pushes the timeline, with possible amendments if the U.S. clarifies its position; long-term, it requires legal reassessment, risking renegotiation if tariffs persist. The Turnberry agreement resolved prior U.S. tariff impositions, but this echoes past EU-U.S. trade frictions under Trump, now complicated by Supreme Court limits on emergency powers. No major public reactions have been reported yet beyond official caution, as the situation remains fluid with ongoing negotiations.