European Union – Mr Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne’s participation in the Foreign Affairs Council, Trade (Brussels, 27 May 2019)

During this meeting, Ministers will discuss the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Minister of State will reaffirm France’s commitment to an open and rules-based multilateral trading system, for which the WTO is responsible. He will recall France’s full support for the WTO’s avenues of modernization and rules that the European Union has put forward.

The Ministers will take stock of the current bilateral trade negotiations, including with Mercosur. The Minister of State will recall the importance France attaches to ambitious consideration of sustainable development in the agreements under negotiation.

The Ministers will discuss the European Union’s trade relations with the United States. The Minister of States will recall France’s desire to maintain positive dialogue with the United States, while standing firmly by our principles.

The Minister of State will stress, including in his bilateral meeting with his German counterpart, the need to resume negotiations within the European Union with a view to adopting a regulation enabling more reciprocal access to international public procurement markets.