the European Parliament is expected to formally suspend work on its trade agreement with the United States following France's assertion that the deal is being used as a form of "blackmail" by U.S. President Donald Trump. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced that France supports the suspension due to the escalating dispute over Greenland, which has become a contentious issue in international relations.

Barrot criticized the U.S. government's threats of customs duties and reiterated that France is prepared to reject any "unacceptable proposals." The backdrop to this situation involves Trump's demands regarding control over Greenland, which has aggravated diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Europe.

The European Parliament was initially scheduled to vote on reducing EU import duties on January 26-27. However, the head of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber, indicated that under current conditions, approval was not feasible. This reflects a growing divide within the EU with respect to trade negotiations with the U.S.

Barrot emphasized that while France is committed to working on shared security interests with the U.S., it will not concede to demands perceived as unjustifiable. As tensions mount, it remains to be seen how the EU will navigate this trade relationship moving forward.