France, on Monday, sharply criticised a newly announced trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, labelling it a “submission” to Washington’s pressure, even as other EU member states defended the deal as a necessary step to avoid a harmful trade war.
The framework agreement, unveiled on Sunday, comes as the EU and US—two economies accounting for nearly a third of global trade—sought to ease escalating tensions. Under the deal, Washington will impose a 15% import tariff on most EU goods starting next month. While that is significantly lower than the 30% previously threatened, it remains far higher than European leaders had hoped for.
The deal includes exemptions for key sectors such as automobiles and pharmaceuticals, offering some relief to industries deemed vital on both sides of the Atlant
US President Donald Trump, who returned to office earlier this year with a renewed focus on reshaping global trade dynamics through tariffs, celebrated the agreement during a visit to Scotland, describing it as “the biggest deal ever made.”
But France, the EU’s second-largest economy, denounced the accord in stark terms. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou posted on X: “It is a dark day when an alliance of free peoples, brought together to affirm their common values and to defend their common interests, resigns itself to submission.” French President Emmanuel Macron has so far made no public comment.
Elsewhere in the bloc, however, reactions were more measured. While acknowledging the deal was far from ideal, many leaders accepted it as a pragmatic compromise to prevent further economic fallout.
“This agreement has succeeded in averting a trade conflict that would have hit the export-orientated German economy hard,” said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose country leads the EU in industrial exports.
Speaking to reporters, the EU’s chief trade official said accepting the 15% tariff was the lesser of two evils. “Allowing the 30% tariffs to be imposed would have been much, much worse,” the official stated, underscoring the deal’s strategic importance in preserving economic stability within the bloc.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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