The European Union (EU) confirmed on Thursday that it will maintain trade and technology talks scheduled for next week with the United States, despite the diplomatic crisis triggered by a breach of a contract for the sale of French submarines.
Paris casts doubts about a possible postponement of the Pittsburgh Trade and Technology Council, due to take place on 29 September, in response to the sealed AUKUS agreement between Australia, Britain and the United States, a multi-billion dollar contract at the expense of France. effectively broke.
But the European Union announced the meeting would take place a day after a telephone exchange was meant to defuse tensions between French President Emmanuel Macron and his US counterpart Joe Biden.
“Strategic alliances are made to create shared vision but also to overcome difficulties” tweeted valdis dombrowskiEuropean Commissioner for Trade.
next week @westager And I will attend the EU-US Business Technology Council for the first time #pittsburgh with @SecBlinkenhandjob @SecRaimondo And @AmbassadorTai.
Strategic alliances are about shaping common perspectives and overcoming difficulties. #ttc https://t.co/U3LOvsvwd5
— Valdis Dombrowskis (@VDombrovskis) September 23, 2021
The European Union showed solidarity with France after its ambassador in Washington was recalled, but many of its member states were concerned about rising tensions that could undermine ties with the Biden administration.
The Trade and Technology Council between the European Union and the United States was established last June at a summit aimed at agreeing regulatory strategies for the digital giant and protecting democratic values on the Internet.
A request from the European Union following years of tensions in transatlantic trade cooperation under President Donald Trump.
Remember that since September 15, Franco-American relations have been going through a major crisis. France has been in ulcers since the surprise announcement of a strategic partnership between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, with the collateral effect of directly canceling a mega-contract for French submarines in Canberra.
The exit from the crisis will take “time” and demands “actions”, French diplomacy chief Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday told his US counterpart Antony Blinken during a tet-a-tete on the sidelines of a UN general launch. did. Assembly in New York. France appears to be surprised by the response of the European Union.