ISDS Case Map
France
The Spanish Prime Minister will attempt to persuade the French President the Mercosur pact would help the EU to broaden its alliances with other open, democratic nations and to "rebalance" the geopolitical map.
French government official says European Union and Mercosur both want to "take their time" to finalise trade deal.
France, Germany and EU institutions are at odds over whether to revive the stalled Comprehensive Agreement on Investment with China.
Trade minister Piyush Goyal discussed the progress on the India-EU free trade agreement with his French counterpart Olivier Becht, the commerce ministry said in a statement.
A number of EU countries spoke out against reviving the EU-Mercosur trade deal during a meeting of agriculture ministers in Brussels on Monday 20 March. But with an agreement already hammered out, room for change is limited.
In Brussels, several EU diplomats believe France could change its mind as geopolitical tensions following the war in Ukraine and the coronavirus pandemic strengthen the case for the 27-nation bloc to diversify its trading relationships.
France is waiting to see if Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's return to power in Brazil will allow progress on climate and deforestation issues that remain red lines for Paris in any EU-Mercosur trade deal, its agriculture minister said.
The French government has touted trade cooperation with Morocco amid diplomatic tension affecting the Rabat-Paris bilateral ties.
France confirmed the decision announced by Macron in October and notified the other signatories of the withdrawal, which will take effect on January 1, 2024.
Quitting the ECT, which protects fossil fuel investors from policy changes that might threaten their profits, was ‘coherent’ with Paris climate deal, Macron said.
