The concerns are still numerous in the French industry, three days after the announcement of a commercial agreement concluded between the European Union and the United States. Invited this Wednesday, July 30, Good Morning Business, the president of France Industrie, Alexandre Sabot, lamented “the imbalance” of the agreement “since Americans will tax many European sectors in addition, while Europeans do not proceed to any extent in this area.”
While the threat of 30% of US customs duties on European exports as of August 1, the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the president of the United States finally were granted to a commercial agreement agreement to 15% of the taxes applied to European goods exported through the Atlantic.
“What we expect is very clear is a policy of simplification and competitiveness around the defense of the European industry to allow us to face this new shock,” he said in the BFM Business microphone. And this, especially because this new commercial agreement “is added to a 15% drop in the dollar since the beginning of the year,” he insisted.
Bercy meeting this afternoon
Alexandre Sabot will be received this afternoon in Bercy by Economy Minister Éric Lombard and other government members, such as the Minister of Public Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin or the head of Marc Ferracci’s industry and energy.
Other federations representing professional sectors “affected by US customs duties”, such as the French Banking Federation, the Commerce Alliance or the Federation of Commerce and Distribution will also be invited, among others. Employers, namely, the Medef, the CPME and the U2P will also be present.
Alexandre Sabot expects to obtain “details”, remembering that on the date, there is no “detailed text of the political agreement” concluded between the EU and the United States.
Cosmetics, mechanical, car concerns
It remains to be seen if this meeting will relieve the concerns expressed in the key sectors of the French industry. “We hope that all important sectors for the French industry will see their customs duties set at the lowest possible level. You have heard the concerns of cosmetics, it is true in mechanics, it is true in the car,” added the president of France Industrie.
In this context of “commercial war”, Alexandre Sabot considered that “Europe must adapt absolutely to the world as it emerges, a conflicting world.”
Source: BFM TV
