EU Parliament Trade Committee Keeps 19 May Date for EU-US Trade Deal Talks Despite EPP Push to Accelerate

The European People’s Party tried to bring forward the next round of talks between the European Parliament and EU member states on the EU-US trade deal, according to Euronews reported on 11 May 2026. Bernd Lange, a German Socialist MEP who chairs the Trade Committee, rejected the EPP request and insisted on keeping 19 May as the date for the next negotiating round.

The latest attempt to implement the EU-US trade agreement failed last week.

The next negotiating round on the EU-US trade deal remains scheduled for 19 May. US President Donald Trump has given the Europeans until 4 July to finalise the EU-US trade agreement. Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on European cars and trucks if the EU fails to implement the deal.

The EU-US trade deal would reduce EU tariffs on US goods to zero and cap US tariffs at 15%. The agreement was reached last summer in Turnberry by Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. MEPs broadly expect a positive outcome before Trump’s 4 July deadline.

The EPP argues that European businesses need certainty over trade relations with the US as soon as possible. The disagreement over the timing of the next talks highlights differing views among political groups on the urgency of the situation. The EPP has pointed to Donald Trump’s increasing pressure on Europe, including the tariff threat on European cars and trucks.

Bernd Lange said the latest developments showed it was right for his group to stand firm. “The latest developments show that it was right for us to stand firm against the American campaign of threats. European legislation must not be shaped by threatening social media posts from Washington,” he said.

Lange attributed delays in the process to actions by the US president. “Delays were caused by the irresponsible actions of President Trump, for example regarding his demand for the annexation of Greenland. His claim that we Europeans are failing to meet our obligations is simply false,” he said.

The EU-US trade deal is driving a wedge between the two largest groups in the European Parliament — the European People’s Party and the Socialists and Democrats — Euronews reported. The S&D does not want to give in to pressure, particularly in light of recent US court rulings against the global tariffs imposed by Trump.

Lange argued that EU democratic procedures are not negotiable and rejected US criticism that Europe is moving too slowly.