President Donald Trump confirmed that this Friday, August 1, would mark the date of entry into force of new customs duties, without any postponement. On his social social network, he said: “The deadline of August 1 is the deadline for August 1. It will not be extended. A big day for America! »» Since April, the American president has introduced a 10 % surcharge on all products imported into the United States, with even higher rates for countries with an unfavorable commercial imbalance in the United States.
Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and the European Union have signed agreements providing specific rates between 15 % and 20 %, lower than initial threats. The United Kingdom is doing with a rate set at 10 %. About twenty other countries have received letters announcing rights between 25 % and 50 %. Trump also announced that a global customs tariff between 15 % and 20 % would be applied to all countries that have not signed an agreement. China remains a special case, at the heart of a customs confrontation having seen the rights climb 125 % on American products and 145 % on Chinese products. A temporary agreement brought these rates to 10 % and 30 %. New negotiations are underway.
From a French point of view, if some members of the government emphasize that this agreement limits damage – Donald Trump initially threatened to bring customs duties to 30 % – of the votes amounted, from LFI to RN, to be indignant at such a European capitulation. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, for example, qualified this agreement as “Very bad news for Europe”. Prime Minister François Bayrou went further, speaking of“A dark day”where the European Union “Resolves with submission” Faced with the United States.
2 – Remote under condition of the terrorist Boualem Bensaïd
Boualem Bensaïd, 57, will be released on August 1 after almost 30 years in prison. Recognized as one of the main authors of the 1995 attacks in Paris claimed by the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), it will be immediately expelled to Algeria, in accordance with the decision of the Paris Court of Appeal. He had laid bombs in RER B (Saint-Michel station, 8 dead, 150 injured) and near the White House metro (18 injured), and participated in the RER C attack at the Musée d’Orsay (30 injured).
Born in Algiers in 1967, a former karateka, he joined the GIA during the Algerian civil war. Arrested in November 1995, he was described as the “working ankle” of attacks. In 2002, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with 22 years of security, a sentence confirmed on appeal in 2003. Contesting the facts, he denied any involvement and denounced confessions obtained under pressure, despite a fingerprint found on an explosive device. He was also sentenced to 30 years in prison for an attempted attack on a TGV and 10 years old to belong to a terrorist organization.
3 – Stars night 2025
The Night of the Stars 2025 will take place on August 1, 2 and 3, with more than 500 events offered by 350 structures across France. Free and open to everyone, these astronomical observation evenings require no prior knowledge, only curiosity. Presented by enthusiasts, they combine wonder and transmission of knowledge. The theme of this edition, chosen by the French Association of Astronomy, is: “The oceans of the sky”.
The celestial spectacle will include the passage of the Perseids, the Milky Way visible from north to south, as well as the observation of a first district of the Moon in the early afternoon. Since 1991, these events have been led by volunteer astronomers. In 2025, more than 300 clubs, planetariums, tourist offices and local communities will participate in this big stars festival.
4 – Lorient Interceltic Festival in Brittany
The 54th Interceltic Festival of Lorient will be held from August 1 to 10, 2025 in Brittany, with the theme “The cousins of America”. This edition will honor the Celtic cultures from across the Atlantic: Acadie, Quebec, Louisiana, New Brunswick, Cap-Breton, Nova Scotia, Boston and New York.
Since the 16th century, thousands of Europeans – from France, Ireland or the British islands – have migrated to America, taking their Celtic roots with them. These cultures have adapted, transformed and enriched on the American continent. Thirteen years after a first edition dedicated to Acadians, the festival again celebrates these living ties between the old and the new world. The event will be an opportunity to vibrate to the rhythm of music and dances from across the Atlantic and to strengthen cultural bridges between the two continents.
5 – The good news of the day
In 2024, according to the Banque de France annual report on the balance of payments, France recorded a current surplus of 2.7 billion euros, after two years of strong deficits. This recovery is due to the drop in trade deficit, in particular thanks to a reduction of 13.3 billion euros in the energy bill and a record surplus in the service sector (56.5 billion), carried by travel, transport, business and insurance services.
French investments abroad have reached an unprecedented level (288.9 billion), resulting in net capital outings. The net external position of France remains debtor (-670.4 billion, or -22.9 % of GDP), but improves by 230 billion thanks to the revaluation of assets held abroad. On the other hand, public administrations, indebted to the tune of 113 % of GDP, display a negative external position of 1,477 billion, due to the strong detention of public debt by non-residents (55.8 % of GDP).
