France believes it can in coming days reach an agreement with Germany to break a deadlock between the two countries on reforms to Europe’s energy market, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday.
Le Maire also said France backed a 35-50% increase in the IMF’s quota lending resources, and urged all Fund members to likewise support an increase. “There is a lack of productivity and lack of growth in Europe. And we cannot be satisfied by the level of growth in Europe,” Le Maire said. “We cannot accept, of course, to have Chinese EVs benefiting from very significant public support,” Le Maire said. “So we have to assess the situation to assess whether there is really a level playing field and then to draw the consequences for the sake of protecting our industry.”