French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Donald Trump's trade strategy, asserting that Europe needs to strengthen its sovereignty to avoid becoming "vassalized" and subjected to "iron-fisted politics."
He openly opposed competition from the United States, accusing the US of undermining European export interests through trade agreements, demanding maximum concessions, and having an overt intention to weaken and subdue Europe.
In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Macron stated that this "endless stacking of new tariffs is fundamentally unacceptable."
Trump recently issued broad threats to his European allies, declaring that the US would implement damaging trade measures against countries that do not support his annexation of Greenland. Trump also threatened punitive tariffs on French wine due to Macron's refusal to join a Gaza peace committee.
Emmanuel Macron at Davos on January 20th.
Trump also posted on social media a text message from Macron, in which the French leader invited Trump to dinner in Paris and to meet with leaders from Ukraine, Syria, Denmark, and Russia on Thursday.
The US President announced over the weekend that, starting February 1st, a 10% tariff would be imposed on goods from eight European countries, threatening to increase it to 25% by June unless an agreement is reached for the "purchase of Greenland."
Macron warned that Trump's trade policies are harming European export interests and "demanding the maximum concessions." He urged Europeans not to accept a "new colonial approach."
The French President also made several veiled criticisms of Trump, beginning his speech by saying "This is an era of peace, stability, and predictability," which drew laughter from the audience.
European leaders are scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss how to respond to Trump's threats.
