A senior delegation of European Parliamentarians (MEPs) will touch down in Washington D.C. this week amid mounting tensions between the United States and its global trade partners.
From Wednesday to Friday, the group of MEPs will engage in a packed schedule of meetings with their Congressional counterparts, hoping to shore up transatlantic relations at a time of renewed uncertainty.
Led by Brando Benifei, a prominent Italian MEP from the Socialists and Democrats group, the delegation’s visit comes against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to impose sweeping tariffs on a range of imports. The move has rattled allies and adversaries alike, raising concerns on both sides of the Atlantic about the future of global trade.
The European visitors will devote much of their time preparing for the next session of the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue, a forum created to deepen cooperation between the European Parliament and the US Congress. However, the immediate context — fraught with economic tension and strategic competition — ensures that their agenda will stretch far beyond the usual pleasantries.
On Thursday, MEPs will meet with members of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. Given China’s rising assertiveness on the world stage, discussions are likely to delve into the shifting global balance of power and Europe’s role in it.
They will also meet the newly installed leadership of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee and members of the bipartisan House EU Caucus. Here, topics will range from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine — a pressing concern for both Washington and Brussels — to bilateral trade issues, EU-NATO cooperation, and the broader question of how to manage relations with an increasingly assertive Beijing.
In an increasingly multipolar world, maintaining strong transatlantic ties has never been more important, according to delegation head Mr Benifei. “We must ensure that the longstanding bond between Europe and America not only endures but thrives in these challenging times,” he said ahead of the visit.
The delegation includes some of the European Parliament’s most influential voices on foreign affairs and trade. Alongside Mr Benifei are European Parliament Vice-President Sophie Wilmès), Foreign Affairs Committee Chair David McAllister, International Trade Committee Chair Bernd Lange, and Michał Szczerba, the Parliament’s standing rapporteur for relations with the United States.
The packed schedule does not stop with Capitol Hill. On Thursday and Friday, the MEPs will also meet officials from the US State Department to discuss foreign policy coordination and the role of NATO. Private meetings with influential think tanks and the US Chamber of Commerce will round out the trip, offering the delegation a broad cross-section of American political, diplomatic, and economic opinion.
For the European side, the visit is a vital opportunity to voice concerns about the impact of American trade policy on European economies already grappling with the twin challenges of post-pandemic recovery and geopolitical instability. Brussels is keen to prevent a repeat of the 2018 trade tensions that saw tariffs threaten to spiral into a full-blown trade war.
At the same time, both sides recognise the urgent need to present a united front in dealing with external threats, particularly from Russia and China. With American presidential elections looming next year, and Europe’s political landscape increasingly fragmented, there is a growing recognition that time may be running short to solidify the foundations of transatlantic cooperation.
As the delegation’s members prepare to make their case in Washington, the stakes could hardly be higher. In an era where economic competition, security threats, and shifting alliances define the global order, Europe and America must decide whether they stand stronger together — or risk drifting further apart.
