Since then, the Commission has been torn between introducing sanctions in the event that partner countries do not respect the TSD chapters in the agreements, or not doing so, so as not to discourage trade. Valdis Dombrovskis said that both options were still on the table. France wants to focus on sustainability in trade during its Presidency of the EU Council. In 2020, it had already proposed a working document with the Netherlands on this issue. Both countries suggested that tariff preferences should be made conditional on compliance with TSD chapters (see EUROPE B12480A14). Invited to the conference in Paris, the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade, Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany), recalled the importance of going further on TSD chapters, including to ensure greater respect for workers’ rights in partner countries. It is clear to him that sanctions should be applied as a last resort.