Group of European Parliament members call for trade deal suspension
In a formal letter addressed to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the Conference of Presidents, the lawmakers demanded that parliamentary consideration of the deal be suspended “for as long as claims for Greenland and threats are made by the US administration.”
The appeal follows renewed comments by Trump and senior officials signaling an intention to “take over” Greenland, a self-governing territory under Danish authority. The lawmakers described such rhetoric as a direct challenge to the international rules-based system.
“Threats and undermining of the international rules-based order and threats of territorial expansion should never be accepted and will surely only serve to further destabilise an already uncertain world,” the letter stated.
They warned that remaining passive would be damaging, adding: “What would be even worse than simply remaining silent in the face of the shocking US statements, would be to be seen to reward it. Yet that is what might very well happen, if we do not act now.”
The trade arrangement, concluded last summer between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trump, involves changes to customs duties and the expansion of tariff quotas for selected US products. It is currently slated for a plenary vote in February.
The lawmakers cautioned that moving ahead under current circumstances would send the wrong message. “If we go through and approve a deal that Trump has seen as a personal victory, while he makes claims for Greenland and refuse to rule out any manner in which to achieve this, it will be easily seen as rewarding him and his actions,” the letter argued.
In addition to calling for a freeze on the agreement, the signatories pressed the European Parliament to clearly signal to the European Commission, the EU Council, and Washington that it would not engage in agreements with any partner threatening EU territorial integrity. They further urged the Commission to pause all ongoing negotiations with the United States until such statements are withdrawn.
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