The European Union is close to finalising a free trade agreement with India, though further work is required to complete it, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, reports RTE.
“There is still work to do. But we are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement. Some call it the mother of all deals. One that would create a market of two billion people, accounting for almost a quarter of global GDP,” she said in a section of her speech on EU efforts to diversify its trade, reports RTE.
Ms von der Leyen is due to travel to India early next week.
She also warned the United States that imposing punitive tariffs on allied European countries over Greenland would be a “mistake”, reports RTE.
“The proposed additional tariffs are a mistake especially between long-standing allies,” she said, reports RTE.
Ms von der Leyen further pledged that Europe’s response to President Donald Trump’s repeated threats regarding Greenland and tariffs would be “unflinching”.
“Plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape. So our response will be unflinching, united and proportional,” Ms von der Leyen said, reports RTE.
Her comments followed Mr Trump’s statement that he would impose a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes, a move he said would pressure the French president to join his so-called ‘Board of Peace’ initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts.
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When asked by a reporter about Emmanuel Macron saying he would not join the board, Mr Trump responded: “Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he will be out of office very soon, reports RTE.
“I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join, but he doesn’t have to join,” Mr Trump said, reports RTE.
A source close to Mr Macron said yesterday that France intends, for now, to decline the invitation to join the initiative.
Mr Trump first proposed creating the Board of Peace last September when announcing his plan to end the war in Gaza, but invitations sent to world leaders last week outlined a broader mandate to address conflicts globally, reports RTE.
A draft charter sent by the US administration to around 60 countries calls for members to contribute $1 billion in cash if they wish their membership to last more than three years, according to the document seen by Reuters.
Governments responded cautiously to the invitation on Sunday, with diplomats warning the proposal could undermine the work of the United Nations, reports RTE.
Yesterday, Mr Trump also said he had invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the peace board. “He’s been invited,” Mr Trump said, reports RTE.
Mr Trump has also said he believes European leaders will not “push back too much” against his efforts to purchase Greenland.
“I don’t think they’re gonna push back too much. We have to have it. They have to have this done,” he told a reporter yesterday, reports RTE.
The US president said he had a “very good” phone call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte regarding Greenland.
Mr Trump also said he had agreed to hold a meeting of various parties at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, reports RTE.
He did not specify which parties would attend.
Yesterday, he said the US would discuss acquiring Greenland at the forum, claiming Denmark cannot adequately protect the territory.
“We have to have it. They have to have this done. They can’t protect it, Denmark, they’re wonderful people,” he told reporters, reports RTE.
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