EU hits pause on US trade deal as it seeks clarity over latest Trump maneuver

FRANKFURT, Germany — Frustrated European officials pushed Monday for clarification on how U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration of a 15 percent global tax on imports would affect the trade deal they struck with Trump this summer as EU legislators hit pause on the deal's ratification until they get clarity. The European Parliament’s trade committee postponed a committee vote on ratification after Trump said he would impose the new tariff, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his use of an emergency powers law to set new import taxes. Trump then turned to another section of trade law to justify his imposition of the 15 percent global rate, which take effect Tuesday. The EU position is expressed in five words: “A deal is a deal,” said commission spokesman Olof Gill. “So now we are simply saying to the US, it is up to you to clearly show to us what path you are taking to honor the agreement.” The U.S.-EU deal called for a 15 percent cap on tariffs on most European goods imports, while tariffs on U.S. industrial goods would be lowered to zero. While the deal burdened cons