France on Thursday detained a British fishing vessel that entered its territorial waters without a permit, issued a verbal warning to a second ship, and threatened to impose sanctions - described by observers as "retaliatory" - and may come into effect from the second of next month, in the context of an escalating dispute after Britain's exit from Britain. European Union.
French anger escalated after Britain refused to grant its fishermen the full number of fishing licenses in British waters, which France says are guaranteed to them.
Paris said it would start - as of the second of next month - intensifying border and health inspections of goods coming from Britain.
And the Ministries of Maritime and European Affairs stated - in a joint statement - that France can intensify border and health inspections of goods coming from Britain in particular, prevent British fishing boats from entering certain French ports, and tighten inspections of trucks heading to and leaving the United Kingdom.
The British government strongly condemned what it called French threats against its fish industry (Getty Images)
Crisis could worsen
These sanctions, if implemented, could exacerbate the economic crisis in Britain, which is already suffering from a labor shortage and high energy prices before Christmas.
The government of French President Emmanuel Macron is also considering imposing a second round of sanctions, including a review of its electricity exports to Britain.
"It is not a war, but a battle," French Maritime Minister Annick Girardin told local radio.
Britain had said earlier that the punitive measures that France intends to impose will be met with appropriate measures of its kind.
In a tweet on Twitter, the British minister in charge of Brexit expressed deep disappointment that France has made threats against the UK's fishing industry and traders in his country.