Macron: The EU is "not intimidating enough" in US-EU negotiations, trade agreement talks will continue.

On July 31, Jin10 reported that French President Macron stated that the European Union lacks sufficient deterrence in trade negotiations with the United States, leading to agreements that have been criticized by many as unbalanced. "Europe has not yet viewed itself as a powerful force. To be free, one must be formidable. And we are not yet formidable enough," Macron said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Last Sunday, the EU agreed that most products exported to the U.S. would face a 15% tariff, while the EU's average tariff rate on imports from the U.S. is below 1%. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic acknowledged that this is "the best agreement we can reach under very difficult circumstances." In response, Macron stated on Wednesday that the agreement is not "the end of the story," and negotiations regarding the agreement will continue. "France has always taken a firm and strict position," he said, and will continue to do so.