Macron Criticizes U.S. Tariffs and Trade Strategy at World Economic Forum

TLDR

• President Macron condemned the use of tariffs as leverage against Europe, calling it “fundamentally unacceptable.”
• He criticized U.S. trade policies for undermining European export interests and demanding excessive concessions.
• Macron warned that tariffs against Europe would deepen the divide and destabilize global trade, especially with the U.S. and China.
• He emphasized the need for Europe to strengthen economic sovereignty, especially in strategic sectors like chemicals and automotive.
• Macron advocated for multilateralism and called for European markets not to remain open without similar conditions being offered by other regions.

French President Emmanuel Macron sharply criticized the United States’ trade approach at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He called the use of tariffs as leverage against Europe “fundamentally unacceptable.” Macron’s remarks come amid increasing tensions between the U.S. and European nations regarding trade agreements and economic sovereignty.

President Macron on U.S. Trade Strategy and Tariffs

Macron expressed concern over U.S. trade policies that undermine European export interests. He described these policies as demanding maximum concessions from Europe, which aims to weaken and subordinate the region.

The French President specifically pointed to the growing accumulation of tariffs as a major issue. He further emphasized that using tariffs as leverage against European sovereignty only deepens the divide.

Macron warned that such tactics have led to increased competition, particularly with the U.S. and China. He criticized both nations for practices that destabilize global trade and threaten industrial sectors worldwide.

Macron Advocates for European Sovereignty and Multilateralism

Macron proposed that Europe must strengthen its economic sovereignty to counterbalance the pressures from the U.S. and China. He stressed that Europe should build more autonomy, particularly in strategic sectors like the chemical and automotive industries.

The French President also emphasized the importance of multilateralism in addressing global challenges. Macron suggested that Europe must defend a system that promotes cooperation rather than submission to stronger nations. He called for European leaders to work together and adopt a more realistic stance when negotiating trade terms with other powers.

Macron made it clear that Europe’s markets should not remain open without the same conditions offered by other regions. He argued that the U.S. and China have their own protective measures in place, making it unfair for Europe to remain the only open market. To address these imbalances, he urged the use of Europe’s existing tools, including the anti-coercion mechanism, to protect European interests when necessary.

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