Key facts
- Bernd Lange is the chair of the European Parliament's trade committee.
- Bernd Lange is considered a significant obstacle to a transatlantic deal.
- Lange's stance is causing frustration in Washington.
- A tradition of U.S. ambassadors hosting intimate dinners in Brussels has declined.
- These dinners were used to foster alliances and consensus among European allies.
- The decline in dinners occurred since Donald Trump returned to the White House.
- Diplomats report the decline in diplomatic engagement.
Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee, has emerged as a significant obstacle to a potential transatlantic deal, generating frustration in Washington. His position is reportedly hindering progress on negotiations aimed at strengthening economic ties between the United States and the European Union.
Separately, a long-standing tradition of U.S. ambassadors hosting intimate diplomatic dinners in Brussels has reportedly declined significantly since Donald Trump returned to the White House. These gatherings were historically used to foster alliances and build consensus among European allies. Diplomats suggest that the absence of these informal meetings may be contributing to a broader erosion of transatlantic cooperation and making it more challenging to achieve agreements like the one currently being pursued.