France opposed the negotiations of the European Union (EU) with free trade Australia, since trust was undermined after the refusal of submarines. This was stated by the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Clemander Bon, Politico reports.
“Keep the Word is the condition of confidence between democracies and allies. Therefore, it is unthinkable to move forward in trade negotiations, as if nothing happened to the country, which we no longer trust,” the diplomat stressed.
The publication notes that the European Commission has exceptional powers to carry out trade negotiations on the person of the participating countries, but it is unlikely to take it into this with the open opposition of France. Criticism from Paris may not like Sweden, Ireland or the Netherlands, where the commerce rules are freer.
The head of the Committee of the European Parliament on International Trade Bernd Lange said that due to the events that occurred after the conclusion of Aukus and the “reversal” of Australia, a free trade agreement turned out to be in a difficult situation, in particular, affecting Germany’s interests.
So, the UK Alliance, Australia and the United States affects the German company Atlas Elektronik, which is part of the thyssenkrupp’s shipbuilding holding. Lange noted that the readiness of the European side to compromise decreased, as well as complicated cooperation in the field of industrial policies and technologies in the Indo-Pacific region.
Premier Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that the rupture of the contract for the construction of diesel submarines with France meets the national interests of the country, despite the disappointment and disappointment of Paris.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Drian called Lie and denied the information that Washington had previously discussed with Paris to create Australia submarines under Aukus Agreement and a contract breaking with France.
The conclusion of the transaction has already brought the United States, Great Britain and Australia a lot of problems in relations with France. The new agreement led to the fact that the French authorities for the first time in history were withdrawn by ambassadors from Washington and Canberra, calling a breakdown of his own multi-billion dollar contract with Australia “blow to the back”.