France is leading an effort to exclude the UK from the EU’s new “Made in Europe” policy, which could impact British companies competing in areas like low-carbon technologies and electric vehicles. The proposal was raised by UK’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham during a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the UN General Assembly. This policy, still under negotiation, aims to protect European firms from what the EU sees as unfair competition from China, which is heavily subsidizing its industries. The UK government is concerned that British companies might suffer as a result, and Burnham has made resolving this issue a top priority in EU-UK relations. A key part of the EU’s plan is the Industrial Accelerator Act, which would require public funds—such as subsidies or public contracts—to prioritize European-made products in sectors like renewable energy and electric cars. There is currently a heated debate within the EU over how to define “Made in Europe” and whether to include non-EU countries like the UK, Canada, and Japan. At a meeting of EU industry ministers in Brussels, France advocated for a strict definition of “Made in Europe” that would only include the EU’s 27 member states. French Industry Minister Sébastien Martin emphasized that European taxpayers’ money should support European workers and factories. When asked about the UK, he noted, “The UK made a choice to leave the EU, but that doesn’t mean we can’t trade or find agreements in certain areas. However, there are those who chose the European project and those who chose to leave.” France’s Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad offered little reassurance to the UK government when asked about the risks of alienating trading partners. He said, “If you are not part of the internal market and not contributing to its financial capacity, you don’t get the same kind of protection.” Meanwhile, Germany is pushing for a broader “Made with Europe” policy that would include the UK and other allies. Germany’s Economic Affairs Minister Katherina Reiche argued that while reducing dependency on other countries is important, the EU should not isolate itself from the rest of the world. This stance has been supported by Nordic countries, which generally favor open trade. The debate over the “Made in Europe” policy is creating uncertainty about the timing of the EU-UK reset summit, which was postponed after Keir Starmer stepped down as UK Prime Minister. Since Andy Burnham took office, no date has been set for the talks, which were originally planned for 2026. While British officials expect the summit to happen in November, an earlier date of 6 November has been scrapped. By December, the EU is expected to be focused on negotiating its next seven-year budget, which could consume the attention of EU leaders. EU insiders say that a “Made in Europe” agreement is a top priority for the UK, but caution that it cannot be finalized until the EU has settled on its own position. One EU diplomat warned that pushing for a deal at an autumn summit could put the UK in a difficult position, as the EU27 is struggling to agree internally on the criteria. Ireland, which is currently chairing EU ministerial negotiations, hopes for an agreement on the Industrial Accelerator Act, including the Made in Europe provisions, by December. Ireland’s Enterprise Minister Peter Burke noted that while there are differing views on the issue, a path to resolution is emerging. Poland’s Economic Development Minister Michał Baranowski said it is still unclear whether countries like Switzerland, the UK, Japan, Australia, and Canada will be included or excluded from the policy. He added that the UK should have clarity on its status once the EU act is passed, but that the final stages of negotiations might take some time. A UK government spokesperson emphasized that the UK is a close and trusted European partner, committed to shared security and economic cooperation, and will continue to engage with the EU on these issues.