French President Emmanuel Macron expressed hope that he successfully convinced U.S. President Donald Trump to avoid engaging in a trade war with Europe, urging that the focus should instead be on China.
In an interview with Fox News following his meeting with Trump in Washington, Macron emphasized that it’s impossible to wage a trade war with both China and Europe at the same time. He believes that Washington’s priority should be imposing tariffs on China and that a simultaneous trade war with Europe would be detrimental to U.S. interests.
During their meeting, the two leaders exchanged compliments, hugs, and jokes, but it was clear they disagreed on key issues, particularly how to end the war in Ukraine and prevent a transatlantic trade war. Macron argued that Europe had not done anything to warrant retaliation from the U.S., clarifying that the EU had never imposed tariffs on American imports.
Macron further highlighted that Europe would not be able to increase its defense spending, as Trump desires, if it were facing a trade war. He will inform EU leaders about the meeting’s outcome on Wednesday.
