On 10 June 2026, the European Parliament published a set of amendments to the proposed regulation adjusting customs duties on imports from the United States. The six amendments, all tabled by The Left group, reject the political and economic rationale of the agreement, arguing it undermines EU sovereignty and rewards a hostile US administration. The amendments do not alter the proposed tariff rates or quota volumes but seek to introduce critical recitals and expand the suspension clause.
The Left's amendments frame the regulation as creating "systemically unequal terms of trade" (Amendment 66), damaging EU agricultural and industrial sovereignty. They cite specific US actions—threats of new tariffs (Amendment 67), hostile declarations by President Trump (Amendment 68), and military interventions in Venezuela and Iran (Amendment 69)—to argue the US is an unreliable partner. The amendments also link the tariff adjustment to the wider Turnberry agreement, warning of concerning commitments in energy, defence, and regulatory cooperation (Amendment 70).
The most significant substantive change is Amendment 71, which expands the suspension clause. The original text allows the Commission to suspend tariff adjustments if "objective circumstances" change. The amendment adds explicit, mandatory grounds for suspension: "serious breaches of human rights, fundamental principles of democracy and the rule of law, as well as threats to the essential security interests of the Union or its Member States." This would transform a discretionary, commercially-focused clause into a politically and legally binding condition, making suspension almost automatic if the US were to violate these principles.
The absence of amendments from other groups (EPP, S&D, Renew, Greens/EFA, ECR, ID) suggests either tacit acceptance of the Commission’s proposal or a strategic decision not to engage in a floor fight on this specific dossier. The regulation is part of a broader EU-US trade package following the Turnberry agreement.
EU agricultural and industrial producers may face increased competition from US imports if the regulation passes, but The Left's amendments aim to protect these sectors by rejecting the deal. EU consumers could benefit from lower prices on US goods, but the amendments prioritize sovereignty and security over potential economic gains. The US administration would face a more conditional agreement if the expanded suspension clause is adopted, potentially straining bilateral relations. EU institutions would see a shift in power: the Commission's discretion in suspending tariff adjustments would be curtailed, and the Parliament would assert a stronger political role in trade agreements.
The next steps include a plenary vote on the amendments and the regulation. If adopted, the regulation would enter into force after Council approval. The Left's amendments are unlikely to pass without support from other groups, but they signal deep political divisions over the EU's trade strategy with the US.
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