To fight fires from the air, France has only 12 Canadair planes, which are 'an average of 30 years old'
The contract, signed under the aegis of the European Union as part of the RescEU project, stipulates that only two water bombers will be added to the aging fleet of 12 Canadair aircraft operated by French authorities. All of them are "an average of 30 years old," explained Jean-Philippe Côté, vice president of the De Havilland Canada program; their heavy use, especially in marine environments, has accelerated their aging. According to a parliamentary report published on July 2, this has reached the point where none of the 12 Canadair planes "were able to fly on certain days during the summer of 2024."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fashion Network
44 minutes ago
- Fashion Network
Trump intensifies trade war with 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico
Trump has sent similar letters to 23 other U.S. trading partners this week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20% up to 50%, as well as a 50% tariff on copper. The August 1 deadline gives countries targeted by Trump's letters time to negotiate a trade deal that could lower the threatened tariff levels. The EU had hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the U.S. for the 27-country bloc. Three EU officials told Reuters on Saturday that Trump's threats represent a negotiating tactic. Trump's letter to the EU included a demand that Europe drop its own tariffs, an apparent condition of any future deal. "The European Union will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, with no Tariff being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large Trade Deficit," Trump wrote. EU President von der Leyen said the 30% tariffs 'would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.' She also said while the EU will continue to work towards a trade agreement, they 'will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.' Canada got a higher tariff rate of 35% compared to Mexico, with both letters citing fentanyl flows, even though government data shows the amount of the drug seized at the Mexican border was significantly higher than the Canadian border. "Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough. Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground," Trump wrote. Mexico sends more than 80% of its total exported goods to the U.S. and free trade with its northern neighbor drove Mexico to overtake China as the U.S.'s top trading partner in 2023. The European Union had been bracing for the letter from Trump outlining his planned duties on the United States' largest trade and investment partner after a broadening of his tariff war in recent days. The EU initially hoped to strike a comprehensive trade agreement, including zero-for-zero tariffs on industrial goods, but months of difficult talks have led to the realization it will probably have to settle for an interim agreement and hope something better can still be negotiated. The 27-country bloc is under conflicting pressures as powerhouse Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry, while other EU members, such as France, have said EU negotiators should not cave into a one-sided deal on U.S. terms. Trump's cascade of tariff orders since returning to the White House has begun generating tens of billions of dollars a month in new revenue for the U.S. government. U.S. customs duties revenue shot past $100 billion in the federal fiscal year through to June, according to U.S. Treasury data on Friday.
Fashion Network
44 minutes ago
- Fashion Network
Trump intensifies trade war with 30% tariffs on EU and Mexico
Trump has sent similar letters to 23 other U.S. trading partners this week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20% up to 50%, as well as a 50% tariff on copper. The August 1 deadline gives countries targeted by Trump's letters time to negotiate a trade deal that could lower the threatened tariff levels. The EU had hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the U.S. for the 27-country bloc. Three EU officials told Reuters on Saturday that Trump's threats represent a negotiating tactic. Trump's letter to the EU included a demand that Europe drop its own tariffs, an apparent condition of any future deal. "The European Union will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, with no Tariff being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large Trade Deficit," Trump wrote. EU President von der Leyen said the 30% tariffs 'would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.' She also said while the EU will continue to work towards a trade agreement, they 'will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.' Canada got a higher tariff rate of 35% compared to Mexico, with both letters citing fentanyl flows, even though government data shows the amount of the drug seized at the Mexican border was significantly higher than the Canadian border. "Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough. Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground," Trump wrote. Mexico sends more than 80% of its total exported goods to the U.S. and free trade with its northern neighbor drove Mexico to overtake China as the U.S.'s top trading partner in 2023. The European Union had been bracing for the letter from Trump outlining his planned duties on the United States' largest trade and investment partner after a broadening of his tariff war in recent days. The EU initially hoped to strike a comprehensive trade agreement, including zero-for-zero tariffs on industrial goods, but months of difficult talks have led to the realization it will probably have to settle for an interim agreement and hope something better can still be negotiated. The 27-country bloc is under conflicting pressures as powerhouse Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry, while other EU members, such as France, have said EU negotiators should not cave into a one-sided deal on U.S. terms. Trump's cascade of tariff orders since returning to the White House has begun generating tens of billions of dollars a month in new revenue for the U.S. government. U.S. customs duties revenue shot past $100 billion in the federal fiscal year through to June, according to U.S. Treasury data on Friday.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Germany urges tough EU response if 'fair deal' cannot be reached on US tariffs
The European Union will need to take 'decisive' action to counter US tariffs if no 'fair' deal is reached with Washington to avert threatened levies, Germany's finance minister said on Sunday. Lars Klingbeil told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper that 'serious and solution-oriented negotiations' with the US were still necessary, but added that if they fail, the EU would need 'decisive counter-measures to protect jobs and businesses in Europe'. On Saturday US President Donald Trump announced that the EU and Mexico would be targeted with steep 30 percent tariffs as of August 1. In the case of the EU, he cited the US's trade imbalance with the bloc as justification for the new levies. Europe's biggest economy stands to be particularly affected by the tariffs, just as it was hoping to emerge from two years of recession. Klingbeil said the tariffs would have 'only losers' and 'threaten the American economy at least as much as businesses in Europe'. He said that 'Europe remains determined and united: we want a fair deal.' 'Our hand remains outstretched but we won't accept just anything,' Klingbeil said, and added that contingency measures in the case of no deal 'must continue to be prepared'. Later on Sunday Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the ARD broadcaster that if the threatened tariffs came into effect they would 'overtake a lot of the efforts we have been making' towards reviving the economy and would 'hit our exporters to the core'. Merz said he agreed with French President Emmanuel Macron, who said on Saturday the EU had to 'step up the preparation of credible countermeasures' in the event of no deal before August 1. He said he had spoken to Macron, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Trump in the past few days and would 'engage intensively' to try to find a solution. Merz emphasised that talks between the US and EU 'had been at quite an advanced stage' and noted that in other cases Trump had raised the possibility of such tariffs before a 'sensible solution' was reached. 'This is also what I am hoping for in the case of Europe,' he said.
