U.S. Ambassador to EU Calls for Approval of Trump Trade Deal Without Major Changes
European Parliament and France seek safeguards including sunrise and sunset clauses as trilogue talks approach
Auf einen Blick
- The U.S. ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder has urged the bloc to approve the EU-U.S. trade deal struck at Trump's Turnberry resort without major changes, saying 'a deal is a deal.' The European Parliament and France want to add safeguards including a sunrise clause tying tariff removal to U.S. tariff rollback on steel derivatives, and a sunset clause expiring March 31, 2028.
- Germany opposes changes to the deal, with the next trilogue scheduled for May 6.
KI-generierte Zusammenfassung
DELPHI, Greece — The U.S. ambassador to the European Union called on Thursday for the EU-U.S. trade deal to be approved without major changes. "Our position is that a deal is a deal," Andrew Puzder told POLITICO. The three EU institutions — the European Council, Parliament and Commission — are in talks to finalize enabling legislation for the deal struck at President Donald Trump's Turnberry golf resort in Scotland last year. The agreement would oblige the bloc to eliminate tariffs on U.S. industrial good when it enters into force. Both the European Parliament and France want to add a number of safeguards to the accord, but they face opposition from countries led by Germany that prefer no changes to the deal. The next round of interinstitutional talks, known as trilogues, is scheduled for May 6. "We're hoping that in the trilogue proceedings the result will be an acknowledgment that a deal is a deal," Puzder said in an interview at the Delphi Economic Forum. The proposed amendments include a "sunrise" clause, which would make removing the tariffs on U.S. goods contingent on scaling back American tariffs on steel derivative products, and a "sunset" clause under which the deal would expire on March 31, 2028 — about 10 months before Trump is due to leave office. "I don't want to influence the trilogue procedure by commenting on any of the amendments or the ultimate results," Puzder said. "If they want to negotiate a new deal, then I guess we'll negotiate a new deal." The Commission also wants to get the legislation through as soon as possible without major changes. Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who is currently in Washington, used the same phrase last week: "A deal is a deal." EU lawmakers and France argue the agreement should be amended because of Trump's threats earlier this year to annex Greenland. A Supreme Court decision striking down part of his original tariffs also means the EU no longer has the advantages of the Turnberry deal, with other markets enjoying similar conditions.
