A delegation of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is preparing to travel to Texas for meetings with U.S. Congress members shortly after the upcoming U.S. elections. This visit, scheduled for November 8 and 9 in Fort Worth, aims to establish initial contact with whichever administration emerges victorious—whether it be under Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
The delegation comprises 16 MEPs who will engage with 12 U.S. legislators as part of the 89th EU-U.S. inter-parliamentary meeting. This event typically serves as a platform for lawmakers from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss legislative priorities and agendas. However, the urgency of this meeting is heightened by Trump’s recent comments about implementing a 10% tariff on all European Union goods entering the United States and his ambiguous stance on U.S. support for Ukraine.
Brando Benifei, an Italian MEP from the Socialists & Democrats and chair of the EU delegation, emphasized that the main goal of the trip is to establish a relationship with the U.S. Congress right after the elections. He pointed out that fostering dialogue is crucial, particularly in the context of a potential Trump victory. Benifei also expressed the need to avoid a trade war, stating it would have detrimental long-term effects for both the EU and the U.S.
During the meeting, Benifei is expected to engage with Nathaniel Moran, a Republican congressman supportive of Trump, who chairs the bipartisan U.S. delegation. The Italian MEP remarked on the importance of avoiding an increase in tariffs on either side, which could lead to adverse outcomes for transatlantic trade relations.
Croatian MEP Željana Zovko, another member of the delegation from the European People’s Party, cautioned about the repercussions of Trump’s trade policies on relations with China. She warned that a significant shift in U.S. trade policy could lead China to redirect its products to European markets, complicating the EU’s efforts to manage its relationship with China through new trade agreements with other nations, including New Zealand, Chile, and Vietnam.
In the event of a Harris victory, discussions during the meetings may focus on resolving existing trade tensions, particularly regarding aluminum and steel tariffs that were established during Trump’s administration. In 2018, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on EU steel and a 10% tariff on EU aluminum. While the Biden administration has since replaced these tariffs with quotas, an agreement was reached in 2023 to maintain a suspension of tariffs until March 2025, contingent on the EU refraining from retaliatory measures.
The agenda for the Texas trip will also feature a working session on enhancing NATO defense capabilities and transatlantic security. Benifei noted that Trump’s threats to withdraw U.S. protection from NATO members not meeting the 2% GDP defense spending guideline would be a significant topic of discussion, alongside the broader issue of U.S. support for Ukraine.
Zovko reiterated that the priority remains to sustain the level of cooperation and support for Ukraine that has been established under the Biden administration, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration with Republican congressmen on this issue.
