German lawmaker Bernd Lange (S&D), head of the European Parliament's trade committee, told Europe Today’e on Monday that Trump’ is not interested in EU vehicles. %He said the decision to impose 25 tariffs was politically motivated and targeted directly at German automakers.
Lange, “These tariffs have no legal or economic reason. This is really politically contrary to Germany's ’, he said. “ is specifically targeted at German automakers.”
Lange’nin's remarks came a few days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’in US Trump’ announced the tariffs after ’'s criticism of his war in Iran’.
The US president has accused many European countries of refusing to contribute to Washington ’'s military operations against Iran ’. On Friday, Germany announced it would withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from ’.
Measures if enacted this week, July 2025, between ’te Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Turnberry, Scotland, agreed under the trade agreement reached in ’ %He's going to violate his 15th ceiling.
Lange expressed doubts about the Turnberry deal, which was reached after weeks of trade tensions between Europe and the United States following Trump’'s rise to power and the launch of a nationalist trade agenda.
Lange said “ about the deal, which I'm not sure we can really continue.
Divisions over the guarantees of Parliament
The Turnberry agreement was subsequently suspended several times by members of the European Parliament; Especially after Trump’ threatened tariffs on EU countries that didn't allow him to buy Greenland’.
The mood in “ changed especially after Greenland’, Lange said, adding that all retaliatory options are now on the table after Trump’'s recent threats.
Referring to AB’'s anti-pressure tools designed to respond to economic pressures from third countries, we have the “Toolbox, and of course all the tools are also available, ” said. “We will also look at other elements, such as countermeasures, such as counter tariffs or export restrictions.”
The agreement is currently being discussed between EU governments and lawmakers with the aim of reducing EU tariffs on U.S. industrial goods to zero, as outlined in the agreement.
Members of the European Parliament nevertheless added security measures to the joint statement, including a ’ sunrise “ clause, which stipulates that the new EU tariff cuts must meet US”'s obligations, and a ’ sunset “ clause, which will terminate the agreement in March 2028”.
However, EU member states are divided on these provisions; France's European Parliament supports ’'s tougher stance, while Germany resists.
Lange said “, Germany was unfortunately more in the second camp. “Now I think there's a change here too.”
