France Pushes to Bar UK from EU 'Made in Europe' Policy

France is leading efforts within the European Union to exclude the United Kingdom from the bloc's emerging "Made in Europe" policy, a move that could place British manufacturers at a significant disadvantage in competing for European contracts in electric vehicles and low-carbon technologies.

The policy, designed primarily to counter growing Chinese competition in strategic industries, would grant preferential treatment to goods produced within the EU's internal market. France's position, articulated by a French minister, is straightforward: "If you're not in the internal market, you don't get the same protection." The stance reflects longstanding French skepticism about extending EU economic benefits to post-Brexit Britain.

Read more Democrats Press DOJ Over Dropped Bribery Case Against Adani →

The issue surfaced at the diplomatic level this week when Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham raised the matter directly with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The exchange signals that UK regional leaders, as well as national officials, are tracking EU industrial policy closely given its potential commercial consequences.

The stakes are considerable. As European governments accelerate procurement of green technology — from EV battery supply chains to renewable energy infrastructure — local-content rules that exclude British firms could redirect billions in contracts toward continental producers, further straining trade ties that have remained complicated since the UK's departure from the single market. Analysts note that such policies, while nominally aimed at China, can carry significant collateral impact on third-country partners like the UK.

No final decision on the policy's geographic scope has been announced, and the European Commission has not publicly confirmed its position on UK inclusion or exclusion. Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.