EU-US Turnberry deal: Renew Europe backs Parliament's firm mandate
As the European Parliament prepares to vote on its mandate for trilogue negotiations on the two legislative proposals implementing the tariff elements of the EU-US Turnberry framework agreement, Renew Europe announces its support for the position adopted by the Committee on International Trade (INTA) on 19 March. A key priority for our group throughout this process is to ensure the deal delivers real predictability and stability - for businesses, workers and citizens.
Renew Europe's message is unambiguous: the EU will move forward - but on the basis of fairness and clarity. The INTA position significantly strengthens the Commission's original proposal by making it Trump-proofed: no higher tariffs, no more threats of tariffs, and no security threats against EU member states.
At the heart of Parliament's mandate is a sunrise clause ensuring that EU tariff preferences will only take effect once the United States has effectively fulfilled its own commitments. Parliament also strengthens the important suspension clause, should Washington backtrack - by imposing or threatening with new tariffs or undermining the terms of the deal - the agreement can be suspended. The Parliament has also insisted on stronger protections for the steel, aluminium and their derivatives, which remain disproportionately exposed under current US trade policy.
Karin Karlsbro, (Liberalerna, Sweden), Renew Europe shadow rapporteur on this file said :
“Transatlantic trade relations must be built on mutual respect. We have not forgotten Greenland, the threats and the blackmail. Europe must be prepared to set conditions for the transatlantic relations moving onward. That's what we do through this vote, by Trump proofing the Turnberry tariff agreements.That means: no higher tariffs, no more threats of tariffs, and no security threats. By approving this vote we are doing what we can to provide ourselves and European businesses with as much stability as possible under the circumstances.”
Karin KarlsbroRenew Europe MEP, Sweden, Liberalerna
Sophie Wilmès, (MR, Belgium), Vice-Chair of the EP US Delegation, stated :
“One could hardly say that the Turnberry agreement is balanced, but we are ready to accept it if it provides our businesses with stability and predictability in their trade relations with the United States. However, as the U.S. administration lacks either the capacity or the willingness to guarantee even this minimum, it is up to us, Europeans, to put our own safeguards in place to protect ourselves from the chaos of U.S. tariff policies, and even from certain threats. This is exactly what the Parliament is doing today through this vote.”
Sophie WilmèsRenew Europe MEP, Belgium, Mouvement Réformateur
Renew Europe's support for the INTA mandate does not amount to a blank cheque for the final agreement. The outcome of the interinstitutional negotiations with the Council will determine the Group's ultimate position.