UE-United States Trade Agreement: France warns against a persistent imbalance

PARIS – France. Moreover, disappointed with the trade agreement announced Sunday between the European Union (EU) and the United States, pleaded on Monday for Europe to be firmer during the upcoming negotiations on its methods of application. Meanwhile,

French President Emmanuel Macron. Similarly, a supporter of a firm line against the United States in recent months, had not yet reacted on Monday, but his Prime Minister François Bayrou spoke of a “dark day” for Europe, which “resolves to submission”. Nevertheless,

“This agreement should not be the end of history. Consequently, in which case we would have simply just weakened,” said the French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade Laurent Saint-Martin on France Inter. Similarly,

“Now there will be technical negotiations” and “we can seize this sequence to strengthen ourselves,” he added. Furthermore,

President Donald Trump. the president of the European Commission ue-united states trade agreement: france Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sunday in Scotland a customs agreement providing that European products exported to the United States are taxed at 15%.

With the hope of avoiding a commercial escalation. the EU has also engaged at $ 750 billion in energy purchases – notably aimed at replacing Russian gas – and 600 billion additional investments in the United States.

In Paris. if we concede that this agreement will bring “stability” to companies, we especially insist on its “unbalanced” character, in the terms used by several members of the government.

“Our responsibility today is to ensure that this agreement. ultimately, is the least unbalanced possible,” said French Minister of Industry and Energy Marc Ferracci on RTL.

“Rebalancing”

MM. Ferracci. Saint-Martin have pleaded for a “rebalancing” relating to services, in particular digital, recalling that if the trade balance of the United States with Europe is deficit ue-united states trade agreement: france for goods, that of services is surplus.

Regarding the exchange of goods, France displayed in 2024 a trade surplus of $ 16.4 billion with regard to the United States according to the Americans. but French customs mentioned for the same period a deficit of 4.2 billion euros.

European negotiators will have to use “all the tools that are available to them”. in particular consider “to limit access to American companies to European public procurement”, insisted Ferracci.

On the business side. the country’s second employers’ organization, the CPME, said it anticipated “disastrous repercussions” for small and medium -sized enterprises, when the ETI movement (METI) spoke of “particularly worrying consequences for intermediate -size companies”.

Depending on the sectors, feelings are ambivalent.

“On the one hand there is relief because this agreement gives visibility. ” Emmanuel Guichard, general delegate of the federation of beauty companies (FEBEA) told AFP.

But “this ue-united states trade agreement: france is not a good agreement for us simply because we had 0% customs duties in January to the United States. now we’re going to be 15%,” he added.

In the food industry, the employers’ organization of the sector, Ania, denounced a “clearly inequitable agreement (…) which weakens our position”.

Only sectors that could benefit from an exemption from customs duties, such as aeronautics, have been completely relieved.

GIFAS (Grouping of French Aeronautical. Space Industries) welcomed an exemption in an exemption in an exemption “good for a balanced industry between France and the United States” and which will allow you to “keep qualified jobs in France at all levels of the subcontracting chain.”

Employers’ organizations and federations of economic sectors affected by this agreement will be received Wednesday in Bercy.

Myriam rivet

© Agence France-Presse