The EU has issued its first response to the US president. The European Parliament has decided to suspend the ratification process of the trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, following the latest threats from Donald Trump, its main political groups confirmed on Tuesday, writes lefigaro.fr.

"There is a "majority agreement" among the political groups to freeze the trade agreement concluded last year between the United States and the EU, the leader of the S&D (social-democratic) group, Iratxe Garcia Perez, told reporters.

The EPP (right-wing), the largest group in the European Parliament, also confirmed the suspension of discussions on the agreement. Concluded in the summer, it provides for tariffs of 15% on European exports to the United States, but their elimination for US exports to the EU.

Preventing American companies from accessing the European market duty-free is "a very powerful tool", asserted Manfred Weber, head of the EPP group, on Tuesday. It is "an extremely powerful lever. I don’t believe companies are willing to give up the European market", added Valérie Hayer, president of the centrist Renew group".