Another french flop! Macron fails to scupper eu trade talks with trump

Last night EU ambassadors gave the green light to the European Commission to commence talks with Washington. The negotiations will proceed despite protests from Mr Macron over Donald Trump’s

decision to quit the Paris Agreement on climate change. Officials in Paris have warned they can’t be supportive of the US trade talks after the country pulled out of the 2015 international

climate pact. “I am not in favour of having new trade deals, in whatever form, with whoever is, with partners that do not have the same climate standards that we have because that would be

unfair competition for our companies, our farmers,” said Mr Macron on Thursday. “If we should move forward, I have always been clear, we cannot do it unless we have guarantees.” In what will

be the French President’s second Brussels defeat this week, his aides have conceded they have backed handing the Commission the mandate to kickstart the talks. But one Elysee official

insisted, in a sign of rebellion, Paris will vote against them at an EU ministerial meeting on Monday. But the French vote will be meaningless because only a qualified majority is needed to

sanction the talks. The source added: “It is a question of values. Europe must be exemplary and firm in its defence of the climate.” Mr Macron is particularly concerned with a US trade deal

opening up certain sectors to competition, including farming and fisheries, close to the ‘Yellow Vest’ protest movement they have marred his premiership. Germany has strived to force a

compromise that address Paris’ concerns across the table. Paris has instead signalled it will “continue the fight” after May’s European Parliament elections. “It’s a major issue for the

coming months and for the European elections,” the French official said.  France will use its MEPs to block and hold any deal done with the US unless its demands over climate and industry

are met. The EU-US trade talks will focus on eliminating industrial tariffs after a primary agreement between Mr Trump and Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission President, in

Washington last year. The Commission chief flew out to the US capital amid fears of a pending trade war and Mr Trump slapping huge tariffs on European car imports. Mr Juncker managed to

delay the levies by promising talks on a broader trade deal, as well as pledging that the EU would buy more US soyabeans. Mr Macron has faced a bad week in Brussels. In the early hours of

Thursday morning, he was forced to accept a lengthy Brexit delay despite insisting the EU should cut ties with Britain earlier. EU diplomats have warned that the French President has used up

considerable political capital in Brussels in a bid to satisfy his domestic audience.