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.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 25th of November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Far-right activist and Senator Pauline Hanson was suspended from Australia’s Senate for seven sitting days on Tuesday after she wore a burqa into Parliament in a political stunt that triggered widespread criticism.
The United States is preparing to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Trump administration escalates pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro was ordered to remain in police custody after Brazil’s Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld a detention ruling citing him as a flight risk.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in north-eastern Ethiopia erupted on Sunday for the first time in over 12,000 years, before halting on Monday, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center.
Cameras from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) on Saturday (22 November) captured Hawaii's Kilauea volcano spewing flowing lava from its crater in its latest eruption.
Italy captured a remarkable third consecutive Davis Cup title on Sunday, with Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli securing singles victories in a 2-0 triumph over Spain in Bologna.
U.S. President Donald Trump has told his advisers that he plans to speak directly with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro according to Axios, as Washington designated him as the head of a terrorist organisation on Monday. A claim Maduro denies.
Global media outlets have extensively covered the C5+1 Summit held in Washington, highlighting its significant outcomes for both the United States and Central Asian countries.
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Pope Leo will embark on his first trip outside Italy as the leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, travelling to Türkiye and Lebanon, where he is expected to make appeals for peace in the region.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 25th of November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held talks with Russian officials and Ukrainian representatives in Abu Dhabi on Monday, as the Trump administration accelerated its push to secure a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine, according to U.S. officials.
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