Tensions escalate across the Atlantic tonight, as France lashes out at the newly signed US-European Union trade deal, condemning it as a one-sided arrangement that threatens Europe’s economic sovereignty.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou didn’t mince words. In a statement posted Monday on social platform X, Bayrou described the agreement as an act of, quote, “submission” by the European Union. “It is a dark day when an alliance of free peoples chooses to bow instead of defend their shared values,” Bayrou wrote.
The controversial pact brokered between U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — imposes a 15% tariff on EU imports, including automobiles. While that’s a reprieve from the initially threatened 30%, critics say it’s still a steep departure from the historically low tariffs the EU has enjoyed for decades.
As part of the deal, the EU also committed to purchasing $750 billion in U.S. energy and boosting investment in American industries by an additional $600 billion. For many in Paris, that’s a price too high.
Deputy European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad warned that Europe must act swiftly, saying, “This is not a sustainable agreement. The United States is abandoning fair trade and weaponizing economic policy.” He urged the EU to invoke its anti-coercion mechanisms — potentially targeting U.S. digital giants with taxes or excluding them from European government contracts.
Meanwhile, France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Laurent Saint-Martin, struck a more cautious tone in a Monday interview. He acknowledged the deal provides some clarity for businesses but criticized its imbalance, especially in the digital services sector, where the U.S. maintains a dominant surplus.
“Trump keeps talking about rebalancing trade in goods, but ignores services, where the EU actually lags,” Saint-Martin stated. “We need to rethink the power dynamics and ensure reciprocity going forward.”
So far, French President Emmanuel Macron has remained silent, but the mounting backlash from his cabinet signals a growing rift over the direction of transatlantic economic ties.
As Europe weighs its next steps, one thing is clear, this deal may stabilize trade for now, but it’s also ignited a new era of economic confrontation between old allies.
Reporting by Lisa Lomami.
