Here's a fun twist in transatlantic relations: the trade deal that was supposed to prevent a major EU-US trade war might collapse because of, well, a different dispute entirely. European lawmakers are threatening to tank a key trade agreement with the United States after President Donald Trump started waving tariffs around over Greenland.

Approval "Not Possible at This Stage"

On Saturday, the European People's Party—the biggest political group in the European Parliament—said it's pulling the plug on its support for the trade deal. EPP President Manfred Weber didn't mince words on social media: "approval is not possible at this stage," and any plans to lower tariffs on American goods must be "put on hold."

The timing is pretty brutal for the agreement, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen negotiated with Trump last summer. It's been partially implemented, but it still needs the European Parliament's blessing to become fully official.

A Deal Already on Shaky Ground

The trade pact was never exactly popular in Brussels. EU lawmakers have been skeptical from the start, arguing it tilts too heavily toward American interests. Those concerns got a lot louder after Washington slapped a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum, then expanded it to hundreds of additional EU products following the July agreement.

Von der Leyen has defended the deal as necessary to avoid an even bigger trade war, but critics say it didn't extract enough concessions from the United States. Now, with the EPP signaling opposition, a coalition of left-leaning lawmakers could join forces and potentially block or delay the entire thing.

European Unity Against Tariff Threats

European leaders are rallying around a unified response to Trump's Greenland-related tariff warnings. Von der Leyen defended Denmark's Arctic military exercises as non-threatening and warned that tariffs could seriously damage transatlantic relations.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pointed out that divisions among Western allies only help China and Russia. She suggested NATO should handle Greenland security concerns and emphasized that tariffs would hurt both Europe and the United States.

French President Emmanuel Macron took a firm stance, affirming France's support for sovereignty and Ukraine, defending participation in the Greenland exercise, and rejecting any intimidation. Europe, he said, will respond together to protect its interests.