Macron urges Canadian Premier to alleviate sanctions on Russian titanium
(MENAFN) French President Emmanuel macron has urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to alleviate sanctions on Russian titanium to benefit Airbus and other aerospace companies, according to a Reuters report on Thursday. This request comes after Canada diverged from its allies by banning imports from Russian manufacturing giant VSMPO-AVISMA, the world’s largest processed titanium producer, as part of a sanctions package against Moscow announced in February.
Titanium is a crucial material for the aerospace industry due to its high strength-to-weight ratio, primarily used in aircraft engines and landing gear of large planes. Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Macron made the request during a phone call with Trudeau in March. A source close to the French president revealed that significant efforts were made to persuade Trudeau to grant exemptions for European companies.
“Many messages were passed at all levels,” the source said, highlighting the extensive diplomatic and industrial pressure applied. Support for the lobbying effort came from at least one other European government, according to another source. Initially, Ottawa resisted the pressure but eventually granted waivers to France-based Airbus and several other aerospace firms.
A Canadian source acknowledged that Ottawa might have maintained its firm stance if not for the persistent lobbying by the French government. This decision underscores the complex interplay between economic sanctions and the needs of critical industries such as aerospace, illustrating the challenges in maintaining a united front on international sanctions while addressing domestic industrial concerns.
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