France is pushing the European Commission to take a tougher stance against Washington in transatlantic trade talks, warning that the EU must be ready to act if U.S. President Donald Trump refuses to ease tariffs ahead of the August 1 deadline.
The French government is urging Brussels to adopt a firmer negotiating position in its ongoing trade talks with the United States, warning that failure to do so could undermine Europe’s credibility and economic interests.
A French official involved in trade policy said negotiators must “make it clear that we’re ready to press the red button” if no deal is reached with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose 30% tariffs on all EU goods—triple the current 10% rate—if talks fail by August 1.
Paris believes the European Commission should stop treating Washington as a benign ally, given that the trade war was reignited by Trump’s return to power earlier this year. “We’re dealing with an ally who is raising tensions in a trade war it started,” another French official said.
The warning comes as French President Emmanuel Macron prepares to meet German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Wednesday. While Berlin favours quick concessions to shield Germany’s export-heavy economy, France is holding out for a deal that protects long-term European interests.
“France wants the Commission’s negotiating method to evolve,” the French economy ministry said. “The goal should not be to reach an agreement at any price.”
French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci is due to meet industry leaders on Tuesday and will urge stronger EU resistance in talks with his German and Italian counterparts later this week.
Meanwhile, Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin has advocated using the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument and hinted at broader retaliatory measures against U.S. services, though some member states remain wary of escalation.
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, who visited Washington last week for his fourth round of talks since February, told EU diplomats on Friday that while a deal had not yet been struck, negotiations were ongoing.
North Korea’s Workers' Party of Korea has re-elected Kim Jong Un as general secretary during the party congress in Pyongyang state media reported....
The European Parliament’s trade chief has urged a temporary suspension of the EU–U.S. trade agreement approval, citing “tariff chaos” followin...
China says it's making a "full assessment" of the U.S. Supreme Court's tariff ruling and urged Washington to lift "relevant unilateral tariff measures...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 23rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to...
A “Victory will be ours” banner was hung on the Russian Embassy in Seoul, ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukr...
North Korea’s Workers' Party of Korea has re-elected Kim Jong Un as general secretary during the party congress in Pyongyang state media reported.
The European Parliament’s trade chief has urged a temporary suspension of the EU–U.S. trade agreement approval, citing “tariff chaos” following President Donald Trump’s new 15% tariffs and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidating his previous global tariff programme.
China says it's making a "full assessment" of the U.S. Supreme Court's tariff ruling and urged Washington to lift "relevant unilateral tariff measures" on its trading partners, the Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement on Monday (23 February).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 23rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has drawn international attention after forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy after being rejected by its mother.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of on Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
UK politicians have renewed calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, to be removed from the line of succession following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office and revelations over his links to convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Pakistan said it carried out cross-border strikes on militant targets inside Afghanistan after blaming a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, on fighters it said were operating from Afghan territory.
China says it's making a "full assessment" of the U.S. Supreme Court's tariff ruling and urged Washington to lift "relevant unilateral tariff measures" on its trading partners, the Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement on Monday (23 February).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 23rd of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A “Victory will be ours” banner was hung on the Russian Embassy in Seoul, ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It remains on display despite a request from the South Korean Foreign Ministry on Sunday (22 February) for its removal, sparking widespread criticism.
North Korea’s Workers' Party of Korea has re-elected Kim Jong Un as general secretary during the party congress in Pyongyang state media reported.
The European Parliament’s trade chief has urged a temporary suspension of the EU–U.S. trade agreement approval, citing “tariff chaos” following President Donald Trump’s new 15% tariffs and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidating his previous global tariff programme.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment