The secret EU trade negotiator who made Trump wait

Key Points:

• Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, has been a key internal opponent of the EU-U.S. trade deal struck in 2023, pushing for safeguards against potential U.S. breaches and delays in implementation to protect EU interests.
• Lange’s opposition was fueled by concerns over the asymmetry of the deal and Trump’s unpredictable actions, such as imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum, threatening Greenland's annexation, and menacing Spain over Iran policy.
• He led a coalition of center-left, liberal, and Green lawmakers demanding mechanisms to suspend concessions if the U.S. failed to comply, including a sunset clause and tariff retaliation measures, which delayed the deal and frustrated other EU political groups.
• Despite tough negotiations and some compromises that gave the European Commission more discretion than Lange desired, the final agreement includes political accountability measures signaling EU distrust in the U.S., with a delayed expiry date and conditional tariff suspension clauses.
• Lange’s methodical and persistent style, rooted in his background in Germany’s industrial heartland and labor union ties, has positioned him as a protective figure for European industry and labor, even at the risk of straining transatlantic relations.