EU Lawmaker Demands US Honor Turnberry Trade Agreement

The European Union has signaled that it will only accept new trade tariffs from the United States if they align with the core principles of a bilateral agreement reached in Scotland last year. Bernd Lange, the chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, stated on Thursday that the substance of the "Turnberry Deal" must be preserved as Washington moves forward with fresh trade probes.

The comments follow the U.S. administration's decision to launch Section 301 investigations into alleged unfair trade practices. While Lange acknowledged that these investigations were expected, he expressed concern over the lack of a firm commitment from American officials to uphold the terms established at Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course.

"We will see where the investigations lead to, but anything that departs in substance from the Turnberry Deal will not be acceptable."

Lange shared his views on the social media platform X as the European Parliament continues to deliberate on whether to hold a formal vote on the agreement. The outcome of the U.S. investigations is seen as a critical factor in determining the future of trans-Atlantic trade relations and the stability of the existing deal.