France threatens US trade veto over culture

EU Trade Ministers discussed the draft negotiating mandate for a EU-US free trade agreement on the 18 April 2013.

EU ministers were expected to formally adopt the European Commission's negotiating mandate in June 2013. The talks were then expected to take up to two years, although EU Observer reported that Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht was hoping to strike a deal in time for the May 2014 European Parliament elections.

The French government dismissed as 'naive' suggestions that a transatlantic trade deal with the US would substantially benefit the EU economy and take it out of crisis. France would also insist on the exclusion of Europe's audiovisual sector from the talks.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU leaders throw weight behind US trade talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-leaders-throw-weight-behind-us-trade-talks/

EUObserver, 19.04.13: Brzezinski: EU-US trade pact can halt West's decline http://euobserver.com/economic/119871

EurActiv, 19.04.13: EU-US trade talks to begin in summer http://www.euractiv.com/trade/eu-us-trade-talk-june-news-519237

BBC News, 23.04.13: Culture fears over planned EU-US trade deal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22261877

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/13/363: European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht: The cultural exception is not up for negotiation! http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-363_en.pdf

Blog: Public Service Europe, 23.04.13: The United States and a less united Europe http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3370/the-united-states-and-a-less-united-europe

EUObserver, 26.04.13: MEPs divided on culture clause in US trade talks http://euobserver.com/economic/119949

EUObserver, 18.05.13: Culture to get special treatment in US trade talks, Barroso says http://euobserver.com/news/120159

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