In an interview with Euronews’ flagship morning programme Europe Today, US Ambassador Andrew Puzder warned that it “would be economic malpractice” from the European Parliament to reject a trade deal in a vote set to take place this week.
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A vote is expected Thursday after multiple delays to implement the terms of the political agreement between the US and the EU inked last summer, which tripled tariffs on Europe while cutting duties on US industrial goods down to zero. The deal was harshly criticised as too favourable to the Trump administration and a capitulation from the EU.
Parliamentary sources told Euronews the deal, while suboptimal, is expected to go through as most political groups are set to vote in favour, which makes its full approval likely. The European People’s Party, the largest group in the hemicycle, is supportive of it.
Puzder described it as a “great deal for the United States and the European Union”.
The agreement was thrown into disarray after the US Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the methods employed by President Trump were unconstitutional.
EU Lawmakers had also resisted implementing the deal after Trump threatened to take Greenland, an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark, by force in January before backing down in a last-minute deal for arctic security negotiated by NATO.
Still, Puzder said the United States was “not the obstacle” in the approval of the agreement. Washington has imposed an additional 10% tariff globally to salvo the duties annulled by the US Supreme pegged to Liberation Day. The EU has insisted that the new tariffs must not surpass the 15% all-inclusive ceiling negotiated in the original deal.
Thursday’s vote is crucial for the final approval, with adoption set for April or May.
The US ambassador said Washington is monitoring and “anxiously” waiting.
Asked about the free trade agreement agreed by Brussels and Australia on Tuesday in Canberra, adding to a list of deals including Latin America and India delivered this year by the EU executive, Pudzer said the US does not see it as threatening or detrimental.
“If two of our closest allies close an agreement on trade it helps the world, it doesn’t hurt the world”, said Puzder.
