The European Union demanded the United States honor its trade commitments on Saturday after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down some of President Donald Trump’s most sweeping tariffs. The European Commission said the current situation undermines fair and balanced commerce between the world’s largest trading partners and creates uncertainty that weakens global stability.
“A deal is a deal,” the European Commission said in a statement. “As the United States’ largest trading partner, the EU expects the U.S. to honor its commitments set out in the Joint Statement — just as the EU stands by its commitments.”
Trump’s latest tariff moves have intensified tensions with the EU. The president stated Saturday that he wants a global tariff of 15%, up from the 10% he announced Friday. Meanwhile, the EU is considering pausing ratification of a bilateral trade agreement that imposes a 15% import tax on 70% of European goods exported to the United States.
Market stability at stake
The European Commission characterized the current situation as “not conducive to delivering fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial trans-Atlantic trade and investment, as agreed to by both sides” under the August 2025 joint statement between the two parties. The Commission highlighted that unpredictable tariffs are inherently disruptive, undermining market stability and creating uncertainty across international supply chains.
The EU-U.S. trade relationship is substantial in economic terms. In 2024, the value of trade in goods and services between the bloc and the United States reached 1.7 trillion euros, or approximately $2 trillion — an average of 4.6 billion euros per day, according to European Union statistics.
Parliament considers suspending the deal
Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s international trade committee, said Sunday he will propose pausing the trade agreement’s ratification process. Lange characterized U.S. tariff conduct on social media as “pure tariff chaos on the part of the U.S. administration,” adding that “No one can make sense of it anymore — only open questions and growing uncertainty for the EU and other U.S. trading partners.”
Trump’s negotiator says deals remain on track
Jamieson Greer, Trump’s top trade negotiator, said in a CBS News interview Sunday morning that the United States plans to stand by its trade deals and expects partners to do the same. He said the agreements were not premised on the outcome of emergency tariff litigation. “I haven’t heard anyone yet come to me and say the deal’s off. They want to see how this plays out,” Greer said.
Greer said he spoke with his European counterpart over the weekend and has not heard the EU indicate the agreement is terminated.
The EU’s retaliation tool
The European Union has at its disposal the Anti-Coercion Instrument, a policy tool that can be deployed against countries the EU determines are placing undue pressure on member nations or corporations. The instrument includes measures for blocking or restricting trade and investment, curtailing the export and import of goods and services, barring countries or companies from EU public tenders, and limiting foreign direct investment.
In its most severe form, the Anti-Coercion Instrument could close off access to the EU’s 450-million customer market, potentially inflicting billions of dollars in losses on U.S. companies and the American economy.