NO WHITE SMOKE: EU negotiators failed to reach a common position on the US trade deal last night, with internal talks breaking down at half-past midnight. Before the meeting, Manfred Weber threatened to pull the plug, if this round failed to yield a final agreement.

My colleague Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro reports that MEPs and diplomats made some progress on technical issues, but the bigger political question about what to do if the US breaches the deal remains unsolved. Parliament wants to get the US to commit to removing steel tariffs imposed since Turnberry was signed. “It is important that we get a Trump-proof agreement in place before we have a final deal,” said Renew’s Karin Karlsbro.

You’re reading Rapporteur on Thursday 7 May. This is Nicoletta Ionta in Brussels.

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