European Parliament suspending work on EU-US trade deal
The European Parliament has said it has decided to suspend its work on a trade deal between the 27-member bloc and the United States, a parliament member said, following Mr Trump's repeated requests to take control over Greenland.
The EU assembly has been debating legislative proposals to remove many EU import duties on US goods, a key part of the agreement struck in Turnberry, Scotland, at the end of July, as well as to continue zero duties for US lobsters, initially agreed with Mr Trump in 2020.
The proposals require approval by the parliament and EU governments.
Many politicians have complained that the trade deal is lopsided, with the EU required to cut most import duties while the US sticks to a broad rate of 15%.
However, they had previously appeared willing to accept it, albeit with conditions, such as an 18-month sunset clause and measures to respond to possible surges of US imports.
The trade committee of the European Parliament was due to set its position in votes on 26-27 January.
However, this has now been postponed.
The chair of the committee, Bernd Lange, told a news conference that the new tariff threats had broken the Turnberry deal, saying it would now be put on hold until further notice.
However, freezing the deal risks angering Mr Trump, which could lead to higher US tariffs.
The Trump administration has also ruled out any concessions, such as cutting tariffs on spirits or steel, until the deal is in place.
Follow developments live after Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, which has been overshadowed by a crisis prompted by his persistent claims that the US must acquire Greenland.
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