UK Joins Germany, Italy, Netherlands in Opposing France's "Made in Europe" Proposal

The UK is actively lobbying EU member states such as Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands to jointly oppose France’s proposed “Made in Europe” initiative. The initiative calls for strict “EU-first” procurement rules in sectors including automobiles, advanced technologies, and renewable energy, which could exclude British companies from EU public tenders. The UK fears this move would not only damage UK-EU trade relations but also raise costs, deter investment, and indirectly benefit non-EU competitors. Some EU countries have also expressed concerns about policies overly emphasizing local content, arguing they could hinder market openness and industrial competitiveness. The UK is urging the European Commission to reconsider the direction of this proposal.