Latest news with #Saint-Martin
India Gazette
03-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
"Let's make defence sector a role model for other sectors": French Foreign Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin on India-France bilateral ties
By Shailesh Yadav Paris [France], June 3, (ANI): France and India should make the 'major success' of the defence sector in bilateral ties a 'role model' for other sectors, French Foreign Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin said after the high-level discussions with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Goyal commenced his three-day official visit to France on Sunday. This visit is part of his ongoing visit to France and Italy from June 1 to 5. During his engagements in France, Goyal held bilateral meetings with key French Ministers, including Laurent Saint-Martin and Minister of Economy Eric Lombard. These discussions are focused on strengthening the Indo-French economic partnership and exploring new avenues for enhancing trade and investment cooperation. 'The defence sector is one of the major success stories in India-France bilateral ties. Let's make this defence sector a role model, an example for other sectors,' Saint-Martin told reporters after the bilateral meeting in Paris. The French minister expressed optimism about the stalled European Union-India free trade agreement, suggesting a breakthrough could come in weeks or months, as 'we believe in freer trade, and not in trade wars.' 'I am pretty optimistic that we can have an agreement in the coming weeks or months, because we have to showcase the world that we believe in trade, in freer trade, and not in trade wars,' he told reporters. Saint-Martin emphasised that demonstrating commitment to multilateral trade cooperation carries special significance amid current global tensions. 'It means a lot for us, because we are living in very troubled times in terms of global trade,' he said, adding that both India and France must strengthen their economic and cultural ties. The minister highlighted India's importance in European trade strategy, noting strong backing from Brussels. 'India is one of our priorities and I know that the European Commission really wants to fast-track the talks for the pact,' Saint-Martin said. France seeks to reduce both tariff and non-tariff barriers while addressing sensitive sectors. 'We have to take care of, for example, our agriculture, and some norms that we have in terms of environment and sanitary standards,' he explained. 'A deal at the end is a consensus - both sides have to understand each other's concerns and sensitivities.' Saint-Martin acknowledged that Europe-India trade relations remain below their potential, calling for increased exports, investments, and joint ventures between the regions. The 27-nation European Union represents one of India's largest trading partners, yet both sides see room for significant expansion. 'The FTA is a way of facilitating trade. This is why we need to lower barriers, but on the other hand, you have to protect sometimes some sectors, and I'm talking about agriculture,' he said, outlining the delicate balance required in negotiations. The minister's comments come as global supply chains face disruption and countries seek to diversify trade partnerships beyond traditional routes. The France-India defence cooperation, which includes joint manufacturing and technology transfer agreements, serves as a successful model for deeper economic integration across multiple sectors. (ANI)
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Strategic partnerships, such as with Indonesia, important in context of US, EU trade tensions, France says
JAKARTA (Reuters) - French trade minister Laurent Saint-Martin said on Wednesday that the current context of trade tariffs between the European Union and the United States makes strategic partnerships such as the one France has with Indonesia important. Speaking to reporters in Jakarta, Saint-Martin reaffirmed that Europe and France both wished to avoid escalation in any trade war with the United States. EU member states are expected to vote later on Wednesday on the bloc's first slate of countermeasures against tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Arab News
01-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
European countries resist US push to scrap diversity and inclusion initiatives
PARIS: US government efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives are not going down well on the European continent. Laurent Saint-Martin, France's minister for foreign trade, said on Monday the country won't compromise after the US State Department said that French companies who have contracts with the US government need to drop diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. In neighboring Belgium, where some companies received similar requests, the government lashed out at the new US rules. French media reported last week that French companies received a letter saying US President Donald Trump's rollback of DEI initiatives also could apply outside of the US. Saint-Martin spoke to RTL Radio following the reports and said French authorities will seek explanations from their US counterparts about the letter. The reported demands included abandoning inclusion policies that are part of French and European Union laws such as equality between men and women, the fight against discrimination and racism or the promotion of diversity to help people with disabilities, he said. 'All of this is progress that corresponds first and foremost to our French values, we are proud of this and we don't want to compromise on it,' Saint-Martin said. 'We can't just cancel the application of our own laws overnight.' French media said the letter was signed by an officer of the US State Department who is on the staff at the US Embassy in Paris. The embassy didn't respond to questions from The Associated Press. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, speaking to reporters at a briefing in Washington, confirmed that letters were sent. 'This is an effort to comply with the executive order from the president and it is essentially a self-certifying statement to local consulates and embassies,' she said. Le Figaro daily newspaper published what it said was a copy of the letter. The document said an executive order that Trump signed in January terminating DEI programs within the federal government also 'applies to all suppliers and service providers of the US Government, regardless of their nationality and the country in which they operate.' The document asked US government contractors to complete, sign and return within five days a separate certification form to demonstrate that they are in compliance. Saint-Martin said he was 'deeply shocked' but insisted on the need to have a 'positive agenda' and maintain a dialogue with the US. In Belgium, Finance Minister Jan Jambon said Europeans have a 'culture of 'non-discrimination' that must be continued. 'We have no lessons to learn from the boss of America,' he told channel RTL-TVi. In a joint statement quoted by local media, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot and Equal Opportunities Minister Rob Beenders regretted the 'step backward' taken by the US. 'Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords, but the foundations of a strong and dynamic society,' they said. 'They strengthen our economy, foster innovation and allow talent to flourish.' In Spain, Barcelona's mayor said last week that his municipal government will defy Trump's attack on DEI initiatives that have included a cultural program hosted by the city. Trump issued the executive order to roll back the programs with federal funding, including those receiving US government aid abroad. The Barcelona-based program is one of 700 'American Spaces' located in 140 countries. They offer English-language and other courses to adults and children, information and materials about the US and counseling for foreign students hoping to enroll at US schools and universities.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives in Europe face backlash from some countries
Efforts by the US government to eliminate diversity initiatives have not been well-received in Europe, after French media reported last week that major companies in the country had received a letter saying President Donald Trump's rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives also could apply outside the US. European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrnčířová acknowledged a letter had been sent, but said "we need to know a bit more details before we react and as you know and as you have pointed out, anti-discrimination and equality is based on our main values." The demands in the letter reportedly include abandoning inclusion policies that align with French and European Union laws, such as gender equality, the fight against discrimination and racism, and the promotion of diversity to assist people with disabilities. After the US State Department demanded that French companies that do business with the US abandon DEI initiatives, France's minister for foreign trade, Laurent Saint-Martin, said his country would refuse to compromise. He said French authorities would seek explanations from their US counterparts regarding the letter. "All of this represents progress that corresponds first and foremost to our French values. We are proud of this and we do not wish to compromise on it," Saint-Martin told RTL Radio. "We cannot simply cancel the application of our own laws overnight." The French daily newspaper Le Figaro published what it claimed was a copy of the letter. The document stated that an executive order Trump signed in January, which terminated DEI programs within the federal government, also "applies to all suppliers and service providers of the US Government, regardless of their nationality or the country in which they operate." Recipients were asked to complete, sign and return a separate certification form within five days to demonstrate compliance. Saint-Martin said he was "deeply shocked" but stressed the importance of maintaining a "positive agenda" and continuing dialogue with the US. In Belgium, where some companies reportedly also received similar demands, the government strongly criticised what was perceived as pressure from Washington. Finance Minister Jan Jambon emphasised that Europeans have a "culture of non-discrimination" that must be upheld. "We have no lessons to learn from the boss of America," he told RTL-TVi. In a joint statement quoted by local media, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot and Equal Opportunities Minister Rob Beenders lamented what they called a "step backward" by the US. "Diversity and inclusion are not merely buzzwords; they are the foundations of a strong and dynamic society," they said. "They strengthen our economy, foster innovation, and allow talent to flourish." In Spain, Barcelona's mayor announced last week that his municipal government would defy Trump's attack on DEI initiatives, which have included a cultural program hosted by the city.
Local France
31-03-2025
- Business
- Local France
'Not our values' - French minister 'deeply shocked' by US diversity letter
According to the economy ministry, "a few dozen" French companies doing or looking to do business with the United States have received letters that included a questionnaire asking firms to certify that they "do not practice programmes to promote diversity, equity and inclusion" or DEI. Designed to provide opportunities for people of colour, women and other historically excluded groups, DEI programmes have drawn the wrath of US President Trump and his followers, who say they are discriminatory and incompatible with meritocracy. "We are going to have a discussion with the United States embassy in France about this because we need to understand what the real intention behind this letter is," minister Laurent Saint-Martin told broadcaster RTL. Advertisement French Economy Minister Eric Lombard's office has said Trump views of DEI "are not ours". Saint-Martin struck a similar note on Monday, saying such letters were tantamount to asking companies "to renounce the inclusion policies" that are in line with French or European law -- "particularly on equality between women and men in the fight against discrimination and racism, and the promotion of diversity to help people with disabilities." "All of this is progress that corresponds first and foremost to our French values," he said. "We are proud of this and we do not want to compromise on this," Saint-Martin said, adding the request was "a further step in American extra-territoriality, this time in the field of values." On Sunday, Patrick Martin, head of French employers' federation Medef, said renouncing the rules of inclusion in French companies was "out of the question"" Over the weekend Americans in Spain staged protests after the American Embassy in Spain sent similar letters to Spanish businesses and community groups.
