French President Emmanuel Macron urged companies to pause investments in the US after President Donald Trump announced tariffs on the European Union and other regions.
It makes little sense for firms to invest there while the US hits out against Europe, Macron added, speaking ahead of a meeting with representatives of industry groups affected by tariffs.
“What would be the message of having big European players that invest billions in the American economy at the same time they are hitting us,” Macron said. “We must have collective solidarity.”
Trump, speaking from the White House on Wednesday, announced a 20 per cent tariff on EU imports, which will take effect April 9. He repeated his assertion that the 27 member states “rip us off” and called it “pathetic”.
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World leaders react to Trump’s new tariff blitz as global trade war escalates
World leaders react to Trump’s new tariff blitz as global trade war escalates
The French president is meeting with representatives of business sectors hit by the import tariffs including Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury, the CEO of Safran, Olivier Andries, and the CEO of Pernod-Ricard, Alexandre Ricard.