Macron and Merz try to revive challenging French-German partnership in Berlin
Beyond these gestures of goodwill, the chancellor and the president still faced the challenge of delivering results that matched their stated ambitions. The evening offered no clear answers. "The relationship seems to have restarted on a better footing, which is to be welcomed. But naturally, the points of contention have not disappeared," said Stefan Seidendorf, deputy director of the Franco-German Institute in Ludwigsburg, in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
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Euronews
2 hours ago
- Euronews
EU-US trade deal will come with consequences, German industries warn
While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised a trade agreement signed between the EU and US on Sunday as a stabilising factor "in uncertain times," representatives of the German economy have expressed concern. Von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump struck a tentative trade deal to avert a potentially devastating tariff war between two of the world's largest economies on Sunday. The majority of EU exports bound for the US will be subject to a 15% tariff. According to a statement made by von der Leyen, this also includes billions of euros in EU investments in the US, as well as the purchase of defence equipment. Tariffs of 15% will now apply to car exports to the US, compared to the previously announced 25%. Import duties on steel are to remain unchanged at 50%. The German economy can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being, according to Managing Director of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce Helena Melnikov. Melnikov said that worse has been prevented, however, "the deal has its price, and this price is also at the expense of the German and European economies." Wolfgang Niedermark from the Federation of German Industries was more critical. He stated that even a tariff rate of 15% would have an "immense negative impact" on Germany's export-oriented industry. The Federal Association of Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Service also spoke of a "painful compromise" and warned that supply chains would change and prices would rise, saying the deal will cost Germany growth, prosperity and jobs. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was satisfied with Sunday's agreement, wrote on X that the deal showed it was possible to "avert a trade conflict". However, a review of Trump's actions to date raises doubts about the reliability of the agreement and the US president's words. In an interview with the Funke media group, Michael Hüther, director of the Institute for the German Economy, said that concerns remained as Trump had never completely taken tariff threats off the table.
LeMonde
2 hours ago
- LeMonde
Thailand accuses Cambodia of violating ceasefire, Phnom Penh denies any firing
Thailand's army accused Cambodia on Tuesday, July 29, of violating an hours-old truce, saying clashes continued despite a deal meant to end the bloody fighting that engulfed their jungle-clad frontier. Following peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, both sides agreed an unconditional ceasefire would start at midnight to end fighting over a smattering of ancient temples in disputed zones along their 800-kilometer border. "At the time the agreement took effect, the Thai side detected that Cambodian forces had launched armed attacks into several areas within Thai territory," said Thai army spokesman Winthai Suwaree. "This constitutes a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust," he added in a statement. "Thailand is compelled to respond appropriately, exercising its legitimate right to self-defense." Cambodia's defense ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata insisted there had been "no armed clashes against each other in any regions". However, both sides said morning meetings scheduled between opposing regional commanders along the border as part of the truce pact had either begun or were still scheduled to start. "I saw photos of the two leaders shaking hands," said 32-year-old pharmacy worker Kittisak Sukwilai in the Thai city of Surin – 50 kilometers from the border. "I just hope it's not just a photo op with fake smiles – and that those hands aren't actually preparing to stab each other in the back." In Cambodia's Samraong city – 20 kilometers from the frontier –an Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist said the sound of blasts stopped in the 30 minutes leading up to midnight, with the lull continuing until mid-morning. "The frontline has eased since the ceasefire at 12 midnight," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a Tuesday morning message on Facebook. 'Good faith' Jets, rockets and artillery have killed at least 38 people since last Thursday and displaced nearly 300,000 more – prompting intervention from US President Donald Trump over the weekend. The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008-2011 over the territory, claimed by both because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia's French colonial administrators in 1907. A joint statement from both countries – and Malaysia, which hosted the peace talks – said the ceasefire was "a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security". A spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a statement Monday evening that "he urges both countries to respect the agreement fully and to create an environment conducive to addressing long-standing issues and achieving lasting peace". Both sides are courting Trump for trade deals to avert his threat of eye-watering tariffs, and the US State Department said its officials had been "on the ground" to shepherd peace talks. The joint statement said China also had "active participation" in the talks, hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN bloc chair Anwar Ibrahim in his country's administrative capital Putrajaya. Manet thanked Trump for his "decisive" support, while his counterpart, Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, said it should be "carried out in good faith by both sides". Post-truce tariff deals Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn marked his 73rd birthday on Monday, but a notice in the country's Royal Gazette said public celebrations scheduled for Bangkok's Grand Palace had been canceled amid the strife. Each side had already agreed to a truce in principle, while accusing the other of undermining peace efforts and trading allegations about the use of cluster bombs and targeting of hospitals. Thailand says 11 of its soldiers and 14 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed only eight civilian and five military deaths. More than 138,000 people have fled Thailand's border regions, while around 140,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia.
Euronews
4 hours ago
- Euronews
Five things we don't know yet about the EU-US trade deal
After weeks of negotiations, the EU and the US reached an agreement on Sunday in the tariff dispute that has split them since mid-March: the EU will face a 15% tariff on its exports to the US, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced. 'We have stabilised on a single 15% tariff rate for the vast majority of EU exports. This rate applies across most sectors, including cars, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals,' she said, adding 'this 15% is a clear ceiling - no stacking, all-inclusive - so it gives much-needed clarity for our citizens and businesses.' Cars, which have been subject to a 27.5% tariff for several months, will now face a 15% tariff. A modest victory for German manufacturers. Von der Leyen also announced that zero-for-zero tariffs will apply to certain chemicals, certain generic drugs, semiconductor-making equipment, some agricultural products (but with the exclusion of all sensitive products like beef, rice, ethanol, sugar or poultry), some natural resources and critical raw materials. However, uncertainties remain regarding the details and the sectors covered by the 15% rate, the legal certainty of the deal reached on Sunday and the purchase and investment commitment of the EU. 1. No legally binding agreement yet The agreement reached will not be legally binding for both parties for some time. When exactly remains uncertain. A joint statement is expected to be released by 1 August— the deadline set by US President Donald Trump when he threatened to impose a 30% tariff on the EU. 'It will be a relatively light joint statement' an EU official said, adding that the EU is also awaiting the adoption of an executive order by the US that would bring some certainty to what has been agreed. Until then, negotiations on exemptions to the 15% tariffs will continue. 'Given that we want to make sure that the US delivers on its parts quickly, we will also want to deliver quickly on our part,' the official said, adding: 'We are currently looking into the exact legal basis together with Council and the European Parliament.' A bilateral international agreement between the EU and the US would take time, so other instruments might be considered by the Commission. 2. Which EU products are exempt? Aircraft will be exempt from the 15% tariffs, meaning they will be sent to the US with no tariffs. The production lines in these sectors are too intertwined for the US to risk making their aircraft more expensive. However, the EU will keep negotiating other exemptions, with wine and spirits high on its agenda. Since the beginning of the negotiation, EU industries have continuously warned about the consequences of a deal that would penalise them. "We truly believe the trade of wine is of great benefit for both EU and US companies, and it must be included in the 0-for-0 tariff arrangement,' Marzia Varvaglione, president of the Comite europeen des entreprises de vin said in a statement on Sunday, adding: 'It's not just the EU side saying this—our US counterparts have also been strong advocates for protecting this vital exchange." 3. Steel and aluminium: a quota system still to be negotiated The US currently imposes 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium. This will stay until both sides agree on a quota system. The Commission remains confident of its leverage in the coming talks however. 'I think that is where economics kick in and business interests kick in,' the same EU official said, adding that the bloc's provision of speciality steel is something that "US manufacturing badly needs'. But the European steel industry appeared rattled on Monday. 'If a zero tariff on our traditional exports to the US is confirmed, we would be going in the right direction,' Axel Eggert, director general of the European Steel Association (EUROFER) said, but he added: 'There is no clarity yet. As always, the devil is in the detail.' The uncertainty is offset by a commitment of the EU and the US to jointly fight global overcapacities, mainly coming from China. 4. Energy: The EU's purchase commitment will depend on its industry. The EU committed to buy $750 billions' worth of US energy over the next three years. That's to say $250 billion annually directed towards US liquefied natural gas, oil and nuclear industries. 'We've been looking at our needs also in terms of the phasing out of energy imports from Russia,' the EU official said. However the official conceded that there is no public commitment to delivering on this since the EU and its institutions will not be doing the actual buying. 'We can help with aggregating demand and facilitating certain things, and we can look at where there are maybe bottlenecks in infrastructure,' the official said. The EU also committed to purchasing US AI microchips on top of the $750 billion. 5. EU investment in the US will depend on business EU companies will invest $600 billion in the US, according to the deal. But here again, there's no public authority that will be monitoring this, as it is the case in the Japan-US deal reached on 22 July where investments are equity, loans and guarantees from state-run agencies. However the Commission ensures it had detailed contacts and discussions with different business associations and companies in order to see what their investment intentions were. 'We have basically been aggregated what we know about investment intentions of private companies. And the way this will be expressed in the joint statement is that it is an intention,' another EU official said, adding: 'So it is not something that the EU as a public authority can guarantee.'
