A new trade agreement between the European Union and Australia has caused dissatisfaction in France, once again intensifying discussions around Paris’s foreign trade policy.
As Report conveys, Politico writes about this.
It is noted that after France failed to block the EU agreement with the countries of the South American association Mercosur in January, despite prolonged resistance from Paris, French authorities found themselves under new pressure due to support for a similar deal with Australia.
According to the publication, the largest French farmers’ union FNSEA and the beef producers’ federation Interbev have already spoken out against the agreement. The FNSEA called the document “Mercosur II” and demanded that the French authorities block it.
FNSEA Vice-President and cattle breeder Patrick Benezit criticized both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for signing the deal and the French government for the lack of a tough reaction.
Meanwhile, French Foreign Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier stated that the agreement between the EU and Australia represents a “balanced and demanding partnership.” According to him, at the end of April, he intends to visit Australia along with a delegation of representatives of French small businesses.
The minister’s statement was the first public comment by French authorities on this issue after Ursula von der Leyen signed the agreement on Tuesday in Canberra.
Criticism also came from the French opposition. Member of the European Parliament from the “La France Insoumise” party Manon Aubry called the agreement a “scandal” and declared her intention to seek its halt, including through the Court of Justice of the European Union.
https://report.az/ru/drugie-strany/torgovoe-soglashenie-es-s-avstraliej-vyzvalo-kritiku-vo-francii
