VideoEnergy & Economy
France's new ambassador calls Carney's stand against Trump exemplary
Paris is now pressing for speed ahead of a Canada-EU summit, even though France has never ratified the Canada-EU trade agreement that Canada relies on.
Summary
France's new ambassador to Canada, Hélène Farnaud-Defromont, has called Mark Carney's handling of Donald Trump "exemplary" in her first Canadian interview. The video says she described Washington's demands as extremely radical and said Canada's calm but determined response commands admiration across Europe. She said her mission is to make France one of Canada's closest allies in Europe.
The video contrasts Europe's deal with Canada's refusal of terms it called unfair. The European Union accepted a deal under which many European goods face a 15% US tariff. Carney halted US trade talks on August 21 after last-minute demands, including limits on Canada's right to sign trade deals with other countries and rules protecting the French language. US tariffs of 50% then hit roughly $20B of Canadian goods.
The video's central twist is that France has never ratified CETA, the Canada-EU trade agreement provisionally in force since 2017. The French Senate voted it down in March 2024. The ambassador said "we can no longer be sure" that promises and treaties will be honoured, and that there is no time to spend years haggling. The Canada-EU summit will test whether an "Alliance for the Future" gains real content.
Key points
- France's new ambassador to Canada is Hélène Farnaud-Defromont, who praised Carney's stance as exemplary.
- EU goods face a 15% US tariff under the deal Brussels accepted.
- Carney halted US trade talks on August 21 after Washington's last-minute demands.
- 50% US tariffs hit roughly $20B of Canadian goods.
- CETA has been provisionally in force since 2017, and France is one of 10 EU countries that have never ratified it.
- The French Senate voted down ratification in March 2024.
Questions answered
Why did France's ambassador praise Carney?
Hélène Farnaud-Defromont called Carney's calm, determined stance against American demands "exemplary" and described the US demands as extremely radical. She said the attitude commands admiration across Europe and in France. Her stated mission is to make France one of Canada's closest allies in Europe.
What is CETA and has France ratified it?
CETA is the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the EU. It has been provisionally in force since 2017, but France is one of 10 EU countries that have never ratified it. The French Senate voted down ratification in March 2024, under heavy lobbying from the farm sector.
What tariffs did Canada face after talks with Washington stalled?
After Carney halted talks on August 21, US tariffs of 50% hit roughly $20B of Canadian goods, from dairy to hockey equipment. Carney promised to match them dollar for dollar. By contrast, the EU accepted a deal under which many European goods face a 15% tariff.
Prepared by the CanadaNext Editor with AI assistance from public reporting and CanadaNext's own videos. Sources are linked. How we work