BRUSSELS, March 12 - The European Union should only agree to fresh U.S. tariffs if they effectively replicate the terms reached by both sides in Scotland last year, the chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee said on Thursday.
Bernd Lange said the United States’ initiation of new Section 301 investigations into alleged unfair trade practices had been anticipated. However, he added that the move did not provide a definitive indication that the U.S. administration will adhere to the terms of the agreement that was negotiated at U.S. President Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course.
“We will see where the investigations lead to, but anything that departs in substance from the Turnberry Deal will not be acceptable,” Lange wrote on social media platform X.
The lawmaker’s comments underline that, from the European Parliament’s perspective, the content of any eventual U.S. tariffs must mirror the substance of the previously negotiated accord. At the same time, the European Parliament has not reached a decision on whether it will proceed to a vote on the deal.
The Section 301 investigations launched by Washington are being watched closely by EU officials, who note the investigations were expected but, according to Lange, do not amount to a clear commitment to implement the Turnberry terms. The question of whether new tariffs maintain the substance of that deal is central to the EU’s willingness to accept them.
With parliamentary deliberations still under way, the final disposition of the agreement remains unresolved. Lange’s statement frames the EU position as conditional: acceptance hinges on whether any U.S. measures preserve the key elements of the Turnberry arrangement.
Summary
The chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee said the EU should only accept U.S. tariffs that recreate the substance of the Turnberry deal struck last year in Scotland. He indicated that while U.S. Section 301 probes were expected, they do not yet demonstrate a U.S. commitment to the agreement. The European Parliament has not yet decided whether to vote on the deal.
- Key points:
- Bernd Lange insists any new U.S. tariffs must reflect the substance of the Turnberry agreement.
- Washington has launched Section 301 investigations into alleged unfair trade practices; these were anticipated but are not seen as a clear commitment to the deal.
- The European Parliament is still deliberating whether to vote on the agreement.
- Sectors impacted:
- International trade and exporters
- Industries exposed to tariffs and trade policy uncertainty
- Risks and uncertainties:
- Investigations may produce outcomes that deviate from the Turnberry Deal - this could affect acceptance of any new tariffs (impacting trade-exposed sectors).
- The lack of a clear U.S. commitment as signaled by the investigations introduces uncertainty for businesses that rely on stable tariff arrangements (impacting exporters and manufacturers).
- Ongoing European Parliament deliberations mean the agreement’s final status remains unresolved, creating timing and policy risk for market participants.