The trade ministers of the European Union’s member states are expected to give the European Commission a strong mandate next week to negotiate a far-reaching trade deal with the United States. However, France is holding out against accepting a request from the Commission to be allowed to open discussions on rules governing audiovisual products, for fear of endangering legislation that allows EU countries to subsidize, protect and impose quotas for products of national cultural value. When the trade ministers meet on Friday next week (14 June), France will be demanding that the “cultural exception” is excluded from the Commission’s negotiating...