Brussels (AFP) - European Union countries on Monday overruled France and gave the green light for Brussels to open trade talks with Washington as soon as possible and defuse trans-Atlantic tensions.
The EU's 28
member states had struggled for months to agree on a mandate to open the talks,
with some fearing the delay would restart a trade war with US President Donald
Trump.
But EU
ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved a mandate to negotiate "an
agreement limited to the elimination of tariffs for industrial goods only"
and another accord designed to remove non-tariff barriers.
The
ministers said the mandate would exclude agriculture products, which EU trade
minister Cecilia Malmstrom said amounted to a "red line" for Europe.
US
officials have pushed for farm products to be included.
"I
will now get in contact with our American partners with a view to organising a
date for the first round as soon as possible," Malmstrom told a press
conference in Brussels.
"If we
agree to start, I think it can go quite quickly," the Swedish commissioner
added.
Malmstrom
underlined the determination of the European Commission, the EU's executive
arm, to finish the talks before its five-year term ends on October 31.
'Climate
chaos'
EU sources
said France voted against the mandate and Belgium abstained during the
Luxembourg meeting.
Pursuing a
limited trade deal is a key element of a truce negotiated in July that came
close earlier this month to imploding after the US threatened $11 billion in
fresh trade tariffs against Europe.
Paris voted
against the mandate over worries about domestic blowback just months ahead of
European elections, set for May 23 to 26.
French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted the US first sign back up to the Paris climate accord after Trump dumped the pact in 2017, infuriating Macron.
EU trade
minister Cecilia Malmstrom said she w"ill now get in contact with our
American partners with a view to organising a date for the first round as soon
as possible" (AFP Photo/EMMANUEL DUNAND)
|
French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted the US first sign back up to the Paris climate accord after Trump dumped the pact in 2017, infuriating Macron.
But only a
qualified majority of EU members was needed to support the talks, meaning
France's "non" remained largely symbolic.
Greenpeace
has called on the Commission and national governments not to enter into trade
negotiations with any country that rejects the Paris climate pact.
"EU-Trump
trade talks would seriously call into question the EU’s resolve on climate
change," Greenpeace's Naomi Ages said, warning time was running out to
prevent "climate chaos."
In a bid to
win France over, its EU partners agreed to insist on environmental guarantees
during the talks with Washington.
In another
sop, they also made a specific mention that TTIP, a far more ambitious
transatlantic trade plan that never materialised, be officially called
"obsolete".
The Transatlantic
Trade and Investment Paratnership talks stalled following widespread protests
in Germany, France and Austria over fears it would undermine EU standards on
food and health.
At France's
demand, agricultural products are also off the table.
'Ease trade
tensions'
Berlin
wants the limited deal in order to placate Trump and avoid US auto tariffs that
would punish Germany's cherished exports.
The mandate
from the EU stipulates that the talks would end if the US pursued more levies
against Europe, including on cars. It also says the EU cannot conclude the
negotiations as long as the metal tariffs remain.
The limited
deal concerns only industrial goods, excluding the automotive sector. Fishing
is also included, but not agriculture, services or public procurement.
The US
however insists its wants to discuss agriculture, while Europeans would like to
include cars. Both sides will have to bridge the gaps before the start of
talks.
At a
meeting last July at the White House, Trump and European Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker pledged no new tariffs following those on steel and
aluminium.
That peace
was in danger earlier this month after the US threatened to impose tariff
counter-measures of up to $11.2 billion on a host of European products in response
to subsidies received by aircraft maker Airbus.
But
Malmstrom said: "This is a welcome decision that will help ease trade
tensions."
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.