In a significant escalation regarding international trade, the European Union's parliament has officially halted the ratification of a trade deal with the United States, following President Trump's announcement of a temporary global duty increase on imports to 15%. This decision is a direct response to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that invalidated parts of Trump's trade agenda, which the European Commission has deemed unacceptable. Trade committee chief Bernd Lange emphasized that legislative work on the deal would be paused until there is more clarity on the U.S. position, reflecting a consensus among various parliamentary groups, including the largest bloc, the EPP, as reported by NBC News on February 23, 2026.