Bernd Lange, chairman of the EU Trade Committee and member of the SPD, voiced doubts that the proposed tariff reductions on U.S. industrial goods will be approved on Monday. He told POLITICO’s Industry & Trade newsletter that even if the committee votes in favour of the cuts – a decision he isn’t yet convinced a decision will be reached – the European Parliament could not decide until February at the earliest.
The EU had pledged the U.S. to a tariff‑free regime for American goods under the trade deal signed last summer. The vote on this clause was put on hold earlier this week because President Donald Trump announced a planned Greenland‑tariff measure at that time. During the EU special summit on Thursday, the European Commission said it would resume implementation of the deal once the Greenland tariffs were withdrawn.
Lange still sees the need for clarification. “There are still divergent views in the factions on why we should cut the tariff rates to zero when the steel tariffs haven’t even been negotiated yet” he explained. “Motor manufacturers say they don’t understand this at all and, as a precaution, will continue to pay 50 % tariffs”. He added that it would be hard to explain how Harley‑Davidson could arrive in Europe tariff‑free so soon.
He noted that after a Parliament decision, a trilogue involving the Council and the Commission would still have to take place. “That can’t happen at ICE speed” Lange warned. He projects that the tariff cuts would not enter into force before April or May.
