The French political class was outraged by the European Commission’s conclusion of the trade agreement aimed at removing the majority of customs duties between the EU and the South American Mercosur countries.
Europe welcomed its agreement with Mercosur on Friday. But France continues to fight, as best it can, to oppose the free trade treaty perceived as a threat to its food and agricultural sovereignty. And if some, like German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, immediately congratulated themselves, others in France adopted a much more critical tone.
Starting with Sophie Primas, resigning Minister for Foreign Trade. « Today is clearly not the end of the story. What is happening in Montevideo is not a signing of the agreement but simply the political conclusion of the negotiation. This only commits the Commission, not the Member States »thundered the minister of Michel Barnier, resigning Prime Minister, who had fought to push back the deadlines of the agreement as much as possible.
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Political standoff
Signature does not constitute ratification but when Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission,…
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