French President Emmanuel Macron held a meeting with business leaders, focusing on the protection of the French economy from the new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Macron opened the meeting by describing the decisions of the U.S. president as “brutal and baseless,” expressing concern about the impact of the tariffs on France and beyond.
He signaled that there would be a response to this move.
Macron also called for a coordinated response from the EU, emphasizing that it is crucial for Europe to stay united and respond as one bloc to Trump’s policies.
In an effort to protect the French economy, Macron suggested halting French investments in the U.S. until the situation is clarified and urged that the French sector should not be allowed to become a victim of these harmful tariffs.
On Thursday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also reacted sharply, criticizing the “unprecedented” tariffs from the U.S., calling them a return to “19th-century protectionism.”
Sanchez proposed a new package of 14.1 billion euros to support the economy in response to Trump’s move.
He stated that Europe now faces a trade attack from the West, while in the East, it must manage the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Canada has also imposed counter-tariffs of 25% on vehicles from the U.S. as a response to the tariffs imposed by President Trump the day before.
