An unequal agreement, proof even of the European Union's inability to simultaneously conduct a powerful balance of power.
An unequal agreement
Neither the European Parliament nor the French Parliament should ratify the Von der Leyen-Trump agreement! After four months of suspending the European Union with each of its unstable decisions, the Trump administration is indeed proposing an unbalanced agreement. Admittedly, the 15% tariffs retained are lower than the 20% mentioned in April and the 30% brandished in July.
But rejoicing over a softened punishment in no way erases the strategic failure that this agreement embodies. Even though the European Union is the United States' primary commercial partner in terms of goods, it has failed to assert itself.
A few concessions have indeed been obtained, such as the total exemption from customs duties for the aeronautics sector, but they cannot mask the European Union's lack of firmness on major issues: military, energy, and industrial sovereignty.
Europe still and always dependent on the United States
Militarily dependent because Brussels has committed to massively purchasing American military equipment while opening its markets to their exports, without customs reciprocity. This is an admission of powerlessness at a time when the Union has equipped itself with a rearmament plan (Rearm EU) intended to reflect strategic autonomy in the face of the United States' disengagement in Ukraine and NATO.
We have the skills in Europe to produce our own equipment. Let's choose Made in Europe to defend our sovereignty against an ally who does as they please.
Energetically dependent as well: the agreement provides for the European Union to purchase 640 billion euros worth of American shale gas. This choice, while the European Commission is not competent in energy matters, constitutes an ecological betrayal with respect to our climate commitments, of which the European Green Deal is nevertheless the pillar.
Finally, the European Union is committing to investing 600 billion dollars in the United States, in addition to the amount already promised, at a time when European reindustrialization is struggling to secure financing. Where is the strategic coherence?
What political role for France?
After the snub inflicted by the Trump administration on tariffs, and the indignant reaction of François Bayrou, one question arises: how did we get here?
This morning, I share François Bayrou's observation of a European Union subjected to the unilateral decisions of the United States. But to this criticism is added a major political question: was France consulted by the European Commission during this negotiation? If this is not the case, the legitimacy of Madame Von der Leyen, who neither listens to nor hears France, is seriously called into question.
Faced with what resembles an abandonment of sovereignty, of our industries, of our farmers, France must carry a clear message: we do not accept this capitulation: these very unbalanced agreements, negotiated in haste, and which risk being canceled at any moment by Donald Trump, at the whim of his reversals.
It is not enough to denounce a weakness: one must also act with firmness. François Bayrou must tell us what comes next. Let's refuse to ratify these agreements in the European and French Parliaments. Let's open a real balance of power. The European Union must not let Washington dictate its commercial policy.
François Kalfon
S&D Member of the European Parliament
Press contact
Anaëlle Chocteau
+33 6 68 68 99 72
anaelle.chocteau@europarl.europa.eu