ICYMI: French and EU Officials Say No Trade Agreements Without The Paris Agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Earlier this week, France’s Foreign Minister and the European trade commissioner both said that the European Union will not negotiate any new trade agreements with any country that is not implementing the Paris Climate Agreement, which could bar the United States. These statements follow U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross’ comments last month that the U.S. was open to continuing talks with the EU for the Transatlantic Trade and Investmentment Partnership (TTIP).

The EU’s linkage of climate and trade pacts mirrors statements by the government of Canada and leading U.S. Senators that the Paris Climate Agreement goals should be a priority in the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA talks are currently underway between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.

Donald Trump announced in June 2017 that he plans to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, a process that cannot be completed until November 2020. Since then, Trump, who remains the only climate denying head of state, has become increasingly isolated on the world stage.

In response, Sierra Club Global Climate Policy Director John Coequyt released the following statement:

“This recognition that trade agreements must address the climate crisis is a significant step forward as the world begins to implement the Paris Agreement, even while the Trump administration ignores it at its own peril. Business leaders and diplomatic experts warned the Trump administration that undermining the Paris Agreement would result in a loss of U.S. credibility and influence. We now see that they were correct.  

“From the EU to Canada, a growing consensus is emerging that trade deals will fail workers and communities unless they incorporate and enforce the Paris Climate Agreement goals – indeed, that is exactly what leading Senators have demanded for the ongoing NAFTA talks. By ignoring these demands, Trump further isolates the U.S. on the world stage, exposes workers to job losses, and turns a cold shoulder to families impacted by the climate crisis.

"For too long, trade deals have been instruments of climate denial, allowing corporations to simply move their climate pollution from one country to another, negating climate policies and eliminating jobs. It’s high time that trade deals support workers and the fight against climate change, not corporate polluters.”