France has strongly criticized the newly signed trade framework between the United States and European Union, calling it a “dark day” for Europe. The deal, struck between U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, imposes a 15% tariff on EU goods while sparing U.S. imports from immediate retaliation.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou condemned the agreement on X, accusing the EU of capitulating to U.S. pressure and abandoning its principles. “An alliance of free peoples… resigns itself to submission,” Bayrou wrote, labeling it the “von der Leyen-Trump deal.”
France’s reaction contrasts sharply with the more conciliatory responses from Germany and Italy, whose economies are heavily reliant on U.S. exports. President Emmanuel Macron has remained silent since the deal was signed, though he previously urged the EU to adopt reciprocal measures if Washington imposed tariffs.
French European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad admitted the deal offered limited benefits — such as exemptions for aerospace and spirits — but called it fundamentally unbalanced. He urged activation of the EU’s anti-coercion instrument, allowing non-tariff countermeasures. Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin criticized the EU’s negotiation strategy, arguing that showing force earlier could have yielded a better outcome.
The framework agreement follows months of internal EU debate, with Paris pushing for a tougher stance against Washington while Berlin and Rome advocated compromise. The decision underscores ongoing divisions within the bloc as it navigates heightened trade tensions with the United States.