United States President Donald Trump's tariff moves against Canada Mexico and China have accelerated the global agenda as you know Canada and Mexico face tariffs of 25% while China faced tariffs of up to 60% on some products Europe was next in line for Donald Trump European leaders are expected to discuss Donald Trump's latest tariff threats as they gather today in Brussels for a meeting on defense there are growing fears of a major global trade War tonight after president Trump announced sweeping tariffs so the UK is way out of line and we'll we'll see the UK but European Union is really out of line This Time Trump directed his tariff decisions towards the European Union will definitely happen with the European Union I can tell you that because they've really taken advantage of I said United States President claimed that the EU tariffs would be announced very soon and that the United Kingdom would have to work on this issue for a while these shocking statements caused Great concern among EU member states while the EU group was evaluating the situation in the face of Trump's tax announcements French president Emanuel macron took a critical counter step macron shared statements on tariffs that probably even Donald Trump would not have expected we will now discuss the full details of these important messages from macron we will also discover how other EU member states reacted to macron's statements but first please don't forget to subscribe to our Channel turn on notifications and give us a like to stay up to dat with our content let's get started as EU leaders called for talks in response to Donald Trump's threat of heavy tariffs French president Emanuel macron made an unexpected surprise the French leader made statements that member states would be able to counter United States tariffs in the event of an attack on EU interests speaking on the sidelines of the informal EU defense Summit in Brussels Emanuel macron stressed that if the United States picks up the pace on trade issues Europe as a surviving power must ensure that it is respected and therefore react macron called for a stronger and more united response to Global trade pressures the French leader underlined that Europe must strengthen its industrial and technological infrastructure increase defense spending and adopt a strategic economic approach to reduce dependence on foreign powers he also advocated an action plan that includes increasing public and private sector financing reforming the financing mechanisms of the European Investment Bank and prioritizing European industry in procurement decisions Emanuel macron called on EU Partners to parallel France's efforts to expand defense Investments saying that Europe must act together in key sectors these statements were seen as a retaliatory move by macron at a time of growing concerns over trade tensions with the United States following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in other words French president Emanuel macron was already making preparations against United States President Donald Trump's rhetoric against Europe Mark farach the French industry Minister argued that trade talks with Washington should include some kind of power Dynamic according to Mark farach to be effective any response would have to focus on products that are important to the United States and be hard-hitting franois vad de gallo governor of the bank of France said that the tariffs already imposed by Trump were Drconian franois V dealo said that these tariffs will increase economic uncertainty and are a worrying development the EU group also discussed the issue in more detail kajer Callis the Block's foreign policy Chief said there would be no winners in a trade War European Council president Antonio Costa reported that EU member states agreed with North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutter that a stronger defense Europe would also strengthen the transatlantic partnership Mark Rutter said that the United States sells much more defense equipment to Europe than vice versa and that there is a lot lot of money floating around and more to come as European NATO allies increase their defense spending in Mrrut's assessment as defense spending increases the United States stands to gain much more and Donald Trump will have a much stronger hand in the Tariff competition European countries also backed French leader Emanuel macron's stance against United States tariffs suggesting that the EU grouping should do more on the issue the US for German Chancellor Olaf Schultz said that the EU is strong enough to react to any United States trade tariffs but their aim is to pave the way for cooperation I think that we have to do everything to avoid this totally unnecessary and stupid tariff Wars or trade trade Wars polish prime minister Donald Tusk who believes that Europe and the United States need each other emphasize that a trade war is a mistake and that everything possible should be done to prevent allies from fighting in the face of the Russian threat or Chinese expansionism Danish Prime Minister meta Frederickson said that Copenhagen would never support a war with allies in general but if the Trump Administration imposes tough tariffs on Europe it will face a collective and strong response on the other hand the leaders called for more dialogue with Washington amid Rising tensions over tariff competition and the failure to fully resolve the issues in our view protectionism more generally uh will harm citizens no matter where they reside uh and that Irish Prime Minister Mikel Martin said that the EU and the United States should work together constructively on trade because protectionism hurts citizens wherever they live Finnish prime minister pet opo said that Europe should negotiate with Trump on trade Petri opo added that the biggest threat to Europe is Russia Today I think that it's not enough to have a banking Union we also need to have a defense Union Luxembourg prime minister Luke freden said that the answer to trade tariffs is to respond with the same measures but that tariffs are always bad Spanish economy Minister Carlos quero said that the EU is open to trade and in favor of a globalized market however Carlos quo argued that the parties should not be naive and will protect their companies to ensure that they can compete on a Level Playing Field EU leaders were generally supportive of French president Emmanuel macron's statements but their primary position was that the Tariff crisis should be resolved through dialogue Emanuel macron on the other hand has been the most outspoken EU leader in recent days on Donald Trump's plans to impose tariffs on the EU so after macron's statement if Trump decides to impose more tariffs instead of reaching an agreement with France how will this affect the future of the two countries in fact contrary to expectations relations between the United States and France have recently deteriorated considerably the two countries were already tense before Donald Trump announced his tariffs on the EU this is because on the first day of his second term Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate change agreement and the World Health Organization with these moves Trump had already signaled that he was about to blow cold winds France and the United States were on very good terms in 2007 political relations between France in the United States became friendlier after Nicholas sarosi was elected president of France in 2007 dubbed the American Saro sarazi claimed at the time that he was proud of his nickname after sarosi relations between the United States and France continue to deteriorate on July 12th 2017 United States President Donald Trump visited France at the invitation of President Emanuel macron in April 2018 after macron addressed the United States Congress and expressed his desire for the United States to rejoin the Paris climate agreement to curb climate change United States Congressman Thomas Massie suggested that macron was a socialist militarist globalist science alarmist in late 2018 Trump mocked macron over nationalism tariffs France's World War II defeat plans for a European Army and the French leaders approval ratings this followed Trump's Armistice Day visit to Paris which was heavily criticized both in France and in the United States in December macron criticized Trump for his decision to withdraw United States troops from Syria in April 2019 France's outgoing ambassador to the United States Gerard Aro described the Trump Administration and the United States as isolated in November 2019 macron questioned the United States commitment to Europe now Donald Trump's latest move to impose tariffs on the EU has further strained ties between the United States and France although the two countries have had a bumpy relationship so far Trump's tariff decision may bring disadvantages for both the United States and France in order to understand these downsides more clearly it is necessary to consider the economic ties between the two countries prior to Trump's decision to impose tariffs France and the United States had a deep mutually beneficial economic relationship after French American Trade rebounded significantly following the covid-19 pandemic reaching record highs in 202 22 trade declined in 2023 largely due to Falling Energy prices and lower French beverage exports and cruise ship activity still bilateral trade levels remained higher than before the pandemic although there were no serious problems between the United States and France economic fluctuations worried the two countries tradeing goods between the two countries reached 97 billion EUR in 2023 down 12. 4 billion EUR from 20 2022 French Customs figures show that in all main categories of products imports and exports fell while France's Trade Surplus came at 15. 9 billion EUR trade and services Rose by around 2% in 2023 reaching 70.
4 billion EUR French Imports of services Rise by 1. 7% to 27. 3 billion e and exports of goods by 1.
7% to 43. 2 billion EUR correspondingly in both cases down one place from the year before the United States was France's fourth biggest consumer and fifth biggest supplier in 20123 following four years of surpluses the bilateral trade balance dropped modestly to a deficit of 13. 3 billion in 2022 which was negative once more the 2023 deficit came at 6.
6 billion EUR aeronautical industry medicines and beverages drove French exports to the United States in 202 3 comparatively to 2022 all three categories of Commodities fell particularly beverage exports which dropped by 1 billion euros or 20. 6% broke records in terms of drop furthermore among the sectors with the biggest drop in exports were cruise ships and ships including Pharmaceuticals driven by Rising wind turbine exports general purpose machinery and tools ranked fourth behind cosmetics and perfumes although the United States and France's economic ties have been rising and then declining as witnessed the economic Dynamics have been preserved free from any conflict between the two Nations but today given Donald Trump's actions additional economic issues between France and the United States are to be anticipated this might compel France to search for other economic alliances which nation therefore might France choose above the United States with high level talks cooperation agreements and mutual commitments on world events China's and France's ties have greatly changed in recent years the visit of French president Emanuel macron to Beijing in April 2023 was a significant turning point in Sino French ties new agreements were signed during the visit together signifying a strengthened bond specifically both Nations urged the world Community to handle the spillover consequences in several spheres and promised to assist in resolving the Ukrainian crisis by means of discussion after this conference more specific surfac showing Chinese president xiin Ping's appreciation of the favorable influence of their economic relations by signing 18 cooperation agreements on behalf of French and Chinese businesses officials showed a fresh optimism and underlined the advantages of contact on his first trip to Europe in 5 years A year later in May 2024 she met macron in oat pirene France their discussions addressed a broad spectrum of world issues therefore reinforcing Mutual pledges to improve ties not only between China and France but also with the European Union while MCR underlined the need of preserving Europe's strategic Independence while developing stronger relations with China she underlined China's dedication to National unity and cross-cultural contacts with France reflecting collaborative efforts to improve collaboration and stabilize world affairs these recent events highlight the increasing relevance of sinor French Ties on the world scene actually early history of the two Nations revealed somewhat more varied interactions starting in the 17th century France and China share a rich and complicated past France was rather heavily traded in China in the 19th and early 20th centuries after France acknowledged Taiwan relations sank in the middle of the 20th century and diplomatic connections were suspended France restored diplomatic ties with China in, 1964 and since then both Nations have often conducted highlevel negotiations different agreements have been formed and relationships strengthened still political systems and beliefs have caused difficulties for the alliance the issues dividing France from China have been less noticeable in recent times the founding of the franco-chinese Strategic Alliance in 2004 which seeks to Foster collaboration in sectors like trade business culture and education was one significant change in the relationship this cooperation improved relations between the two Nations and opened the path for more General collaboration in many spheres signing the China France joint Declaration on climate change in 2015 both Nations underlined their will to solve World warming and Advance sustainable development the negotiations leading to the Paris agreement on climate change later that year were much aided by this joint announcement French president Emanuel macron has given boosting economic and cultural connections between France and China top priority since assuming office in 2017 given France's Economic Development and worldwide impact depend on its relationship with China Ma has underlined its significance macron signed numerous deals on nuclear energy Agriculture and tourism with Chinese officials on his first official trip to China in January 2018 along with pushing China to act specifically to solve trade imbalances and Market access concerns the French President also supported further cooperation between Europe and China not withstanding various difficulties such the covid-19 epidemic and France's early opposition to China's belt and Road initiative economic relations between the two Nations kept becoming stronger China became France's top foreign investment Source in 2019 the two Nations negotiated deals covering a broad spectrum including green Finance intellectual property rights and civil aviation the figures likewise indicated the better ties between France and China in 2021 trade volumes between the two Nations peaked at never seen levels China's mofcom claims that bilateral trade has grown about 800 times in the six decades from the official founding of diplomatic ties between the two Nations bringing 78. 9 billion United States dollar in 2023 China has become France's most significant trading partner outside of the European Union but France keeps its crucial role as a major trade Ally for China inside the European Union France's bilateral sectoral deficit with China grew notably from 1.
1 billion EUR in 2022 to 2.
