A European flag flies between two American flags during the 2010 EU-US Summit held on Nov 20, 2010 in the "Portuguese Pavilion" at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa, in Lisbon. (RAFA RIVAS / AFP)
BRUSSELS – European Union ambassadors have postponed discussions to prepare for a new EU-US trade and technology council on Sept 29 in protest at Washington's submarine agreement with Australia at France's expense, two EU diplomats said.
A public agenda document also shows the talks between the EU's 27 envoys had been withdrawn but did not give a reason. Two diplomats said the European Commission, the EU executive, had asked for the discussion to be postponed.
The inaugural EU-US council, announced at a transatlantic summit in June, is due to take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told broadcaster CNN that treatment of France was "not acceptable."
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