France threatens to block start of EU/U.S. free trade talks

[littlemissmartypants]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - France said on Thursday it would block proposed negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States unless cultural sectors, such as television and radio, were excluded from the talks.

Trade ministers held an unprecedented informal meeting in Dublin on Thursday on the negotiations, which the Commission and most member states want to launch by the end of June. The talks are likely to last two years.

"The position of France is that we want exclusion from discussion of cultural items. This is non-negotiable. It is not a surprise. I have said it and if we do have exclusion, we will have no agreement," French Trade Minister Nicole Bricq told a briefing after the ministerial meeting.

"This is a sine qua non condition for our country."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/18/us-eu-us-trade-idUSBRE93H11A20130418

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. I guess they don't want corporate media to take over.

[proverbialwisdom]

2. I certainly hope food is regarded as being in the category of 'cultural items.' nt

[Nye Bevan]

3. But Le Disneyland Paris est magnifique! (nt)