The EU cannot implement its trade deal with the United States until Washington provides legal certainty on tariffs, Irish MEP Barry Andrews (Renew Europe) told Euronews’ morning show Europe Today.
“As long as there isn’t legal certainty, it’s impossible for us to do this,” Andrews said, amid discussions following the US Supreme Court’s decision to halt President Donald Trump’s tariffs, deeming them illegal.
Trump has responded by invoking an emergency legal provision that allows him to impose tariffs of up to 15% worldwide, prompting questions about the validity of the EU-US trade agreement, struck well before the court’s decision.
The deal was agreed by the Trump administration and the European Commission last summer, but the European Parliament has effectively paused it.
This is the reason why “many others are now slow-walking trade agreements with the US,” including countries such as India, Japan and Taiwan, Andrews told Euronews. “It’s much more prudent for us to wait until legal certainty is provided,” he added.
The Renew Europe MEP also pointed to the impact that implementing the EU–US trade deal would have on consumers and businesses, noting that they would “pay the cost”.
Andrews also commented on Hungary’s recent double veto on sanctions against Russia and on a €90 billion loan for Ukraine, saying that with elections looming in Hungary, the Commission should not “walk into Orbán’s trap”.
In order to unblock the loan for Ukraine, the EU “needs to find a way that excludes Hungary,” he said, adding that Kyiv could “run out of money by April, so it is absolutely existential for Ukraine’s future.”
Budapest has blocked the EU funds for Ukraine amid a spat over the Druzhba pipeline, which is used to deliver Russian crude oil to Europe. Hungary and Slovakia claim Ukraine is sabotaging them by refusing to allow Russian oil to flow, while Kyiv insists the pipeline is not operational due to a Russian drone strike in January causing major technical issues.
On whether Ukraine can join the EU by 2027, the Irish MEP argued that EU membership is “one of the key motivations for Ukrainians to maintain their resilience.”
“There’s a pathway to accession in the near term. As long as that’s a reality, Ukrainians will be able to pursue the war against Russia,” Andrews concluded.
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