French Prime Minister Francois Bayra has identified the framework trade agreement between the US and the European Union (EU) as a “dark day” for Europe. And he stated that the block has submitted to US President Donald Trump by an unbalanced agreement, which introduces a duties of 15 % on the EU goods and protects the US import from the US retaliation. TASR reports this based on the Reuters report.
His criticism followed the months of the challenges of France for the EU negotiators to take a tougher attitude towards Trump and threaten retaliatory steps, which contrasted with the more conciliatory approach of Germany and Italy. The French government acknowledged that the agreement has certain benefits, including exceptions to sectors such as spirits and the air industry, but is unbalanced.
“This situation is not satisfactory and cannot be maintained,” He said the French Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad on the social network X. and called on the EU to activate its so -called. a tool against pressure that would allow poor retaliatory measures.
Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister of Commerce, criticized the way the EU led negotiations. “Donald Trump understands only power,” He told France Inter. According to him, the EU was supposed to show its ability to take retaliatory steps. The agreement could look different, he added.
In general, however, a milder line prevailed in the EU, promoted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as their countries are more dependent on exports to the US than France.
“This agreement was able to avert a business conflict that would hardly hit the exported German economy. This is especially true for the automotive industry, where the current duties of 27.5 % are reduced to 15 %, ”said Merz. “I consider it positive that there is an agreement, but if I do not know the details, I cannot better judge it,” Meloni said.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez supported the agreement, but added that “without any enthusiasm”. “The agreement brings a global economy and Finnish companies a very necessary predictability. Working to remove business barriers must continue. Only free transatlantic trade brings the greatest benefits to both parties,” The Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated.
“The Terms and Conditions will not be as good as before and it is not our choice, but we need to find a balance that stabilizes the situation of both sides,” said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lars Løkke Rasmussen “This agreement does not make anyone richer, but it can be the least bad alternative,” The Swedish Minister of Commerce Benjamin Dousa noted, according to which the agreement creates a certain predictability.
“The agreement provides a certain degree of highly necessary certainty to Irish, European and American businesses, which together represent the most integrated business relationship in the world. Although Ireland regrets that the agreement includes a basic duty of 15 %, it is important that we are now more confident in terms of the foundations of the business relationship between the EU and the US, which is necessary for employment, growth and investment, ”concluded Irish trade minister Simon Harris.
