(USA, 18th) In response to President Trump's threat to impose additional tariffs, ambassadors from the 27 European Union member states will convene an emergency meeting.
According to Reuters, Cyprus, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, announced on Saturday evening (Jan 17) that an emergency meeting has been convened for Sunday (18th).
EU diplomats said the meeting is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. local time (12 midnight Malaysian time).
Earlier on Saturday, U.S. President Trump announced on social media that, starting February 1, the United States will impose a 10% tariff on goods imported from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland, citing these countries' opposition to the United States acquiring Greenland as the reason.
On Saturday, Manfred Weber, leader of the largest group in the European Parliament, the European People's Party (EPP), posted on social media stating that EU lawmakers are prepared to suspend approval of the EU-US trade agreement.
He said: "The EPP supports the EU-US trade agreement, but given Trump's threats regarding Greenland, approval at this stage is no longer possible."
He also said that the arrangement in the agreement to reduce tariffs on "American products" "must be paused".
The EU-US trade agreement was reached by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump last summer. Some provisions of the agreement have already been implemented, but formal approval by the European Parliament is still required. If EPP members join forces with left-leaning political groups, there may be enough votes to delay or reject approval of the agreement.
According to the trade agreement, the US imposes a 15% tariff on most EU goods. In exchange, the EU promises to eliminate tariffs on American industrial products and some agricultural products.
A group of outspoken EU lawmakers have long criticized the agreement, arguing that the terms overly favor the US. Discontent deepened after the US, following last July's deal, expanded the 50% tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum to include hundreds of additional EU products.
EU diplomats said the meeting is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. local time (12 midnight Malaysian time).
Earlier on Saturday, U.S. President Trump announced on social media that, starting February 1, the United States will impose a 10% tariff on goods imported from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland, citing these countries' opposition to the United States acquiring Greenland as the reason.
On Saturday, Manfred Weber, leader of the largest group in the European Parliament, the European People's Party (EPP), posted on social media stating that EU lawmakers are prepared to suspend approval of the EU-US trade agreement.
He said: "The EPP supports the EU-US trade agreement, but given Trump's threats regarding Greenland, approval at this stage is no longer possible."
He also said that the arrangement in the agreement to reduce tariffs on "American products" "must be paused".
The EU-US trade agreement was reached by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump last summer. Some provisions of the agreement have already been implemented, but formal approval by the European Parliament is still required. If EPP members join forces with left-leaning political groups, there may be enough votes to delay or reject approval of the agreement.
According to the trade agreement, the US imposes a 15% tariff on most EU goods. In exchange, the EU promises to eliminate tariffs on American industrial products and some agricultural products.
A group of outspoken EU lawmakers have long criticized the agreement, arguing that the terms overly favor the US. Discontent deepened after the US, following last July's deal, expanded the 50% tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum to include hundreds of additional EU products.