Brussels talks on EU-US deal make no progress

Facing US pressure, including tariff hikes on European cars, negotiators from the European Parliament and EU Council, who were trying to conclude the EU-US trade deal, made no breakthrough after six hours of talks in the Belgian capital on Wednesday night.

The European Parliament and the Cypriot presidency of the EU Council failed to finalize a deal to scrap EU tariffs on US industrial goods, as agreed by the European Union and the United States in the framework of current negotiations in Scotland last summer.

The setback comes days after Washington threatened 25 percent tariffs on EU cars, which are above the 15 percent cap on US tariffs for EU goods set by US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the deal made in Turnberry, Scotland in July.

The Cypriot presidency said while exchanges produced "positive momentum" between the two sides, negotiators had made "progress".

With the US turning up the pressure, negotiators agreed to meet again in 10 days, reported Euronews.

EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of a G7 trade ministers' meeting in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday, briefing him on progress toward scrapping EU duties on US industrial goods, which is now unlikely before June.

In March, the European Parliament approved the Turnberry accord with conditions, pending sign off by EU governments. On Friday, Trump accused the EU of breaching the accord and vowed to raise tariffs on cars, while also pressing the bloc to drop tariffs on US goods.

The EU said it was "fully committed to delivering on our shared commitments" and has kept Washington "fully informed throughout the process".

EU member states remain divided over the next steps, raising tensions within the bloc. As a condition for approval, European Parliament members are seeking safeguards, tying any EU tariff cuts to US compliance, plus a sunset clause that would end the deal in March 2028 unless renewed.

France backs adding safeguards, but a German-led bloc, including the Baltic states, Greece, Ireland, and Sweden, prefers last year's deal as agreed.

EU member states broadly agree on shielding the accord from future Trump threats, including those over EU cars or Greenland earlier this year.

The European Commission is pushing for a swift implementation of the EU-US deal, and there is added pressure from leaders of the conservative European People's Party, Parliament's largest group, who say businesses need certainty.

Cypriot Trade Minister Michael Damianos sought to reassure them, saying "the Council is committed to moving swiftly with the implementation" of the deal, adding, "We are fully committed to continuing our constructive engagement with the European Parliament."

An EU diplomat told Euronews the aim of Wednesday's meeting was largely to set out political positions, with technical talks to follow.

German socialist Member of the European Parliament Bernd Lange said, "We made good progress on the issue of the safeguard mechanism and the review and evaluation of the main regulation, but there is still some way to go."

Negotiators are now aiming for a new round of talks on May 19.