The outreach came as the European Commission scrambles to convince skeptical lawmakers in the European Parliament to back legislation implementing the EU\u2019s side of the pact struck at the U.S. president’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland last summer.<\/p>\n
The Parliament has been slow-waking its deliberations on the agreement since the start of the year. Following a Supreme Court decision in late January that overturned much of U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s tariff agenda, lawmakers have been pushing for guarantees from the Trump administration that European exports would not face higher tariffs than the 15 percent ceiling set out in the EU-U.S. trade deal.<\/p>\n
Center-right and right-wing lawmakers want to fast-track the deal and approve it as soon as possible \u2014 but the Social Democrats, liberals and Greens have voted against moving forward, citing the U.S. president\u2019s latest attacks against Spain<\/a>, strikes on Iran and threats to stage a \u201cfriendly takeover\u201d of Cuba<\/a>.<\/p>\n With the Parliament expected to vote on the deal next week, \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d on Tuesday launched a last-ditch attempt in Strasbourg to convince lawmakers to throw their weight behind the pact, briefing top EU lawmakers on his talks with the Trump administration.<\/p>\n After the trade commissioner’s briefing, Bernd Lange, who hails from the S&D and helms the Parliament\u2019s trade committee, appeared relatively reassured<\/a>.<\/p>\n