EU lawmakers again postpone vote on US trade deal after Trump's 15% global tariff

Core Points - The European Parliament has postponed a vote on the EU's trade deal with the United States for the second time due to President Trump's new 15% import tariff [1][7] - The trade deal includes the removal of many EU import duties on US goods and maintains zero duties for US lobsters, which was initially agreed upon in 2020 [2] - The new US tariff could lead to increased levies on some EU exports, with uncertainty about the situation after the tariff expires in 150 days [3][6] Legislative Context - The EU Parliament's trade committee has delayed a vote that was scheduled for Tuesday, with the committee chair expressing concerns over the implications of the new tariff [3] - EU lawmakers will reconvene on March 4 to evaluate the US's commitment to the trade deal and clarify the situation regarding the new tariffs [4] - There are complaints among lawmakers that the trade deal is lopsided, but some were willing to accept it with conditions, including an 18-month sunset clause [5] Tariff Implications - The new 15% tariff could be added to existing 'most-favored-nation' US duties, potentially raising overall tariffs on certain products, such as cheeses, to about 30% [8] - Approximately 7-8% of EU products may face tariffs exceeding the rates agreed upon in the previous deal due to the new tariff [8]