EU-US trade talks advance without final agreement as pressure from Washington mounts
Talks between European Parliament and European Council negotiators stretched late into Wednesday night in a bid to reach a final internal agreement on the EU-US trade deal, but no conclusive outcome was achieved. According to a diplomatic source speaking to journalists on condition of anonymity, a formal approval is now anticipated around May 19.
The delay is drawing visible frustration from Washington. Andrew Puzder, the US ambassador to Brussels, told Bloomberg on Thursday morning that the two sides had effectively reached an agreement last year, with provisions reportedly put to paper in August — including retroactive tariff reductions on automobiles. “You’ve done nothing for nine months,” Puzder said, underscoring the widening impatience on the American side.
On the European side, German MEP Bernd Lange, who chairs the European Parliament’s trade committee and led its negotiating delegation, offered a cautious assessment. “We made good progress on the issue of the safeguard mechanism and the review and evaluation of the main regulation, but there is still some way to go,” he said, confirming that discussions would resume in the coming weeks.
Speaking on behalf of EU member states — with Cyprus currently holding the Council presidency — Cypriot Commerce Minister Michael Damianos expressed commitment to advancing the process swiftly, while emphasising that the negotiations remain aimed at delivering a result that is both balanced and timely for European businesses.
Negotiators entered Wednesday’s session under considerable strain. Talks had been widely expected to be difficult from the outset, with tight timelines and persistent threats of additional US tariffs hanging over the proceedings. The pressure intensified last Friday when President Donald Trump announced 25% import levies on European automobiles, a move that appears to breach the 15% tariff cap established under the Turnberry agreement.
Divisions were also evident within the European bloc itself ahead of the talks. One European diplomat suggested that the conditions put forward by Members of the European Parliament had gone “too far,” while Socialist MEP Brando Benifei defended the Parliament’s firm stance, arguing that Trump’s repeated threats made it necessary to secure what he described as “solid guarantees.”
With no deal concluded and Washington’s patience appearing to wear thin, the coming weeks are likely to prove critical — both for the future of transatlantic trade relations and for Europe’s ability to respond collectively to American pressure.
