HyperNormalisation 2016
France regrets the EU's refusal to monitor imports of South Korean cars.
The French government has said it regrets the decision of the European Commission to reject a request by France to monitor car imports in South Korea, after a bilateral trade agreement came into force in July 2011.
France had in August asked the Commission to require South Korea to give notice of planned car exports to the European Union since a free trade agreement FTA entered into force in July 2011 increased deliveries automobile the EU to South Korea took place.
imports of Korean cars in the EU increased by 41 for the year to the end of June 2012 During the same period, the increase in France was 24, Eurostat data show.
In July, the largest carmaker, PSA Peugeot Citro n has announced plans for France to close a plant near Paris and cut 8,000 French carmakers jobs are part of the general market losing and struggling because of the increasing competition among other manufacturers, Hyundai and Kia s Korea.
The monitoring would have sought France meant the authorities could require a document to accompany products intended for export to the EU.
On Monday, the Commission sent a letter to France, explaining that the French request was based on a provision requiring them to show that imports were concentrated in one or more Member States of the EU and this condition has not been filled.
It is true that the automotive sector in the EU, particularly in France, through a difficult period, this can not be attributed to the entry into force of the EU-Korea FTA, spokesman for the trade of EU John Clancy said, quoted by Reuters news agency.
The South Korea-EU FTA is seen by the EU as a model for future trade deals include a safeguard clause allowing Brussels to re-impose duties if producers in sensitive industries are hit by a particularly strong increase in imports .
The Commission added that the level of EU car imports from Korea was 37 below their level before the financial crisis and thus their increase could be considered a recovery effect.
The French government has deplored the decision by the Commission.
The government will maintain a regular dialogue with the Commission on the development of trade with Korea in the automotive industry in particular in the monitoring of the sector covered by the agreement, the Minister of Foreign Trade Nicole Bricq and the Minister of Industry Arnaud Montebourg said in a joint statement.
The Government wishes to reaffirm its support for the French automotive industry and reiterates its determination to defend its interests in European decision-making bodies, the ministers added.
Meanwhile, Montebourg is behind a new media campaign to promote the brand Made In France.
The decision by the minister came as France prepares reforms aimed at restoring lost competitiveness on world markets of the Socialist government of President François Hollande is under pressure from employers to reduce labor costs in order to make the cheaper french products.
European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said protectionist thrust of the French minister makes no sense that France has the most industrial enterprises probably among the 500 largest companies in the world.
Can France t redistribute the cards of world trade alone, he said in an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro on Tuesday.
These companies are probably doing better abroad than they do in France so I demand the How reindustrialise France with a 35-hour week and without resolving the high wage costs, I do not think Mr. Montebourg many long-term interest, De Gucht said.
The EU and South Korea signed a free trade agreement during a bilateral summit in Brussels on 6 October 2010 contract includes a safeguard clause enabling the EU's industry and governments to seek new imposition of duties if surging imports hurt EU producers.
The concerns of European car manufacturers, particularly in Italy, have been at the heart of the negotiations, which began in 2007.
Under the agreement, South Korea has decided to relax domestic rules on CO2 emissions for cars, mainly benefiting large vehicles imported from Germany.
The agreement is the first of a new generation of free trade agreements that have gone further than ever to lift trade barriers and make it easier for European and Korean companies to do business together.
France regrets the EU's refusal to monitor imports of South Korean cars, France, regret, denial.
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