The United Kingdom is stepping up pressure on European Union member states such as Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, seeking to prevent the adoption of French proposals to promote "Made in Europe", which could exclude British companies from EU public tenders, Bloomberg reports.
According to sources at the agency, as the EU considers the Made in Europe initiative – a response to both US President Donald Trump's tariffs and general geopolitical and trade uncertainty – member states appear divided on how protectionist the new policies should be.
France, under President Emmanuel Macron, is pushing for a tougher European preference, with strict rules in favour of products and services produced within the Union, especially in strategic sectors such as automotive, advanced technology and renewable energy. In contrast, several member states are reportedly looking for a less restrictive approach, expressing concerns about the impact on investment and production costs.
According to the same sources, Britain is mainly addressing countries that will be most affected by strict "European preference" rules, asking for their support to maintain open trade relations. Sweden, Finland and the Baltic countries are also in favour of looser rules.
The French Industry Ministry told Bloomberg that a country that has chosen to leave the EU cannot enjoy the same advantages as member states, noting however that public procurement remains accessible to third countries that offer reciprocal access to their markets. As he argued, the sectors in question account for less than 5% of the European market, leaving room for "balance and realism".
British ministers have publicly voiced their concerns, with Finance Secretary Rachel Reeves saying the shift to protectionism "makes no sense", while Business Secretary Peter Kyle spoke of a lack of unanimity within Europe.
These discussions have emerged as the main issue in Britain-EU relations in recent weeks, ahead of the imminent publication of the Industrial Accelerator Act, a key piece of legislation for the implementation of "Made in Europe". Industry Commissioner Stéphane Cészourne said the Commission was still aiming for its adoption on February 26, despite repeated delays.
Speaking at the Munich Conference, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer argued for the need for closer ties with the EU, stressing that "Britain is no longer the country of the Brexit years". For her part, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sought to allay concerns, underlining that the plans will be limited to strategic sectors and will be based on evidence-based economic analysis.
