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The French President has been keen to integrate EU nations even further and has floated the potential for a European Army, a joint tax on big tech and huge environmental investment. In May he reiterated his goal to put climate change at the heart of his government – and the EU – with a plan for a carbon tariff on products from outside the EU. However, with no legislation in place yet, there is doubt over Macron’s commitment to the cause – despite his ardent support for the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.

Multiple sources within the EU say that he has made little real attempt to turn his rhetoric into reality. An anonymous EU source said: “Nothing concrete is on the table.” Online newspaper EUObserver sent an ‘access to documents’ request to the EU Commission in May asking for all correspondence from the French government regarding a European carbon border tax over the last two years. It also asked for any records which hinted at the French position about such measures. But the EU Commission directorate-general said there were no documents that matched the description.

Macron hasn't even tried to get his plan through Brussels

Macron failed to convince other EU leaders

It has also never been raised in the EU Council, which consists of all the heads of state in the Union – including Macron. An EU Council source said it had never been discussed, either at working party level or at the Ecofin (Economic and Financial Affairs Council). They added: “Ministers can raise a point on their own initiative. “The French have never done that on a carbon border tax.” However, even if Macron begins to take some concrete action, he will face heavy resistance from the EU Commission, according to a source.

They said: “Border measures on products imported into the EU give several problems. “Compliance with the World Trade Organization rules is questionable. Challenging implementation – it is very difficult to determine how much carbon there is in imported products. “Border measures can lead to reactions from trade partners – we do not want to enter a trade war in times when we need to foster and lead to international climate cooperation.” The French President first seriously floated the idea in September 2017, but made renewed calls for the tax recently in response to mass protests from the ‘gilet jaunes’. He said: “The success of this transition goes through our European commitment, our capacity to defend at the European level the need to achieve a carbon price. “The climate must be at the heart of the national and European project.”

He first floated the idea two years ago

Macron may use the tax to outfox Trump