Rabu Jul 30 2025 14:20
2 min
French President Emmanuel Macron has sharply criticized the recent trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, stating that the EU was not "formidable" enough in the negotiations. The remarks have sparked renewed debate about the power dynamics in global trade.
"Europe hasn’t yet considered itself enough of a power," the French President said. "To be free, you have to be formidable. We aren’t formidable enough."
The EU recently agreed to accept a 15% tariff on most of its exports to the US, while in return, the EU's average tariff rate on US goods will fall to below 1%. EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic acknowledged that this was "the best deal we could get in very difficult circumstances."
Several French officials have described the agreement as unsatisfactory. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said, "It was a dark day when an alliance of free nations, which was supposed to unite to proclaim its values and defend its interests, ultimately chose to give in."
Nationalist parties in Europe have also criticized the trade deal. Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader in France, described the agreement as a "crushing political, economic, and moral failure."
President Macron emphasized that the agreement is not "the end of the story" and that negotiations will continue. The EU and the US are expected to issue a joint statement before August 1st, after which they will begin negotiations on a legally binding trade agreement.
The eventual form of the final agreement remains unclear, but if the goal is a full free trade agreement, it could take years to negotiate. It's crucial to monitor the developments of these negotiations and analyze their potential impact on the global economy. European businesses should prepare for potential shifts in the international trade environment, while consumers should observe the effects of tariffs on the prices of goods and services. Furthermore, analysis of past trade agreements shows that sectors such as agriculture and automotive industries are often the most affected, requiring businesses in these areas to be particularly vigilant.
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