French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly criticized the prospect of new U.S. tariffs on European goods, calling the move contradictory to calls for greater military cooperation. Speaking after a summit on Ukraine in Paris, Macron said such economic measures would harm both American allies and the U.S. economy itself.
“This is not the time to be imposing tariffs on us,” Macron stated, referencing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for Europe to take on more responsibility for its own security. “Imposing tariffs means breaking value chains, creating inflation in the short term, and destroying jobs. It’s not good for the American economy, nor for the European, Canadian, or Mexican economies.”
The French leader warned that Europe would retaliate against any trade barriers, vowing to work towards dismantling such tariffs. “It would be quite paradoxical if the U.S. imposed more taxes on their main allies,” he said.
Macron’s remarks highlight growing tensions between the U.S. and its European partners over trade policies, even as both sides navigate geopolitical challenges, including support for Ukraine.
