Briefly

FRANCE

EU urged to speed up tariff deal with US

French Finance Minister Eric Lombard said on Saturday he hoped the European Union would reach a deal on tariffs with the United States "this weekend", before a July 9 deadline to avoid the return of steep tariffs. "On tariffs, it could all be decided this weekend," Lombard said at an economic forum in southern France. "If not, Europe will undoubtedly have to respond more vigorously to restore the balance." If the EU does not clinch an agreement with the US by Wednesday, the default levy on EU imports is set to double to 20 percent or even higher.