France's Macron says EU-US trade deal 'not the end of it'
"It's not the end of it," Macron told ministers during a cabinet meeting, according to participants.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen clinched the framework accord with US President Donald Trump on Sunday after dashing to Scotland as the August 1 deadline loomed for steep levies that threatened to cripple Europe's economy.
EU exports are now set to face tariffs of 15 percent on most products – higher than customs duties before Trump returned to the White House, but lower than his threatened 30 percent.
The EU also committed to buy $750 billion of liquefied natural gas, oil and nuclear fuels from the United States split equally over three years, and pour $600 billion more in additional investments in the United States.
"Europe does not see itself enough as a power yet. To be free, you have to be feared. We were not feared enough," Macron said.
"France has always held a stance of being firm and demanding. It will continue to do so," he added.
The European Union could obtain "new exemptions" in follow-up talks to firm up the deal in details, he said.
He however said that negotiations had been held in "difficult circumstances" and that the deal at least "offered visibility and predictability" in the short term.
"It preserved French and European interests" in important exporting sectors including aviation, he added.
French Finance Minister Éric Lombard told reporters later on Wednesday that the EU's negotiating strategy with the US had not been vigorous enough.
"There is the issue of the negotiation method, which within the European Union ... has perhaps not been as energetic or vigorous in certain phases, and this is what the President of the Republic said when he stated that we must improve our ability to be feared and to carry weight in negotiations," Lombard said after a meeting at the finance ministry.
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