EU seeks to ease French fears over Hollywood in U.S. trade talks
Source: Reuters
(Reuters) - EU states sought to reassure France on Friday that its culture would be shielded from the might of Hollywood and Silicon Valley, urging Paris not to block a free-trade deal with the United States that could boost transatlantic business.
Paris has refused to join the 26 other EU governments that want talks to start in July, unless television, movies and developing online media are left out of a deal.
EU trade ministers meeting in Luxembourg tried to resolve the issue at a closed-door session on Friday, but officials told Reuters that France stuck to its position in initial exchanges. The bloc needs French agreement not just because it is Europe's second largest economy but because under EU rules, trade deals touching on cultural issues need unanimous support.
"I would say the chances for an agreement are 50-50," said Alexander Stubb, Finland's minister for Europe and foreign trade, as he went into the meeting. "There is nothing that threatens the French or the European film industry and I shall certainly continue to watch all of my beloved French movies even after this free trade negotiation," he told reporters.
Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/06/14/uk-eu-us-trade-idUKBRE95D0AW20130614
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