THE FROGS HAVING PRE-SURRENDERED:

EU trade ministers have reached a compromise that will allow the bloc to enter talks with the United States towards a free trade agreement. This came after France received guarantees about its TV and movie industry.

The agreement reached in Luxembourg on Friday includes a guarantee demanded by France that issues relating to its cultural industry will not be on the table - at least not initially.

However, the clause, which one European Union official described as "not in, not out," also gives the European Commission the right to raise any issue it sees fit during the course of negotiations with the Americans.

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