Macron: The EU Lacks Sufficient Clout in US-EU Negotiations, Trade Talks to Continue

According to Jinse Finance, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the European Union lacks sufficient deterrent power in trade negotiations with the United States, resulting in the agreement reached being criticized by many as unbalanced. "Europe still does not see itself as a strong power. To be free, one must be formidable. And we are not formidable enough," Macron said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Last Sunday, the EU agreed that most products exported to the US would face a 15% tariff, while the average tariff rate on goods imported from the US to the EU would remain below 1%. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic acknowledged that this was "the best agreement we could reach under very difficult circumstances." In response, Macron said on Wednesday that the agreement is not "the end of the story" and that negotiations on the agreement will continue. "France has always taken a firm and strict stance," he said, and will continue to do so.