Macron’s trade ultimatum to China goes from private to public: fix surplus or face tariffs
French president says EU could copy American protectionism, warning that a lopsided flow of goods results in China ‘effectively killing their own customers’
Emmanuel Macron has warned Beijing that Europe would be forced to retaliate with “strong measures” against Chinese goods – including punitive tariffs modelled after US policy – if a trade imbalance between the two sides remains unaddressed well into 2026.
“I told them that if they do not react, we Europeans will be forced, in the next several months, to take strong measures and to de-cooperate, following the example of the United States – for instance, by imposing tariffs on Chinese products,” Macron said in the story, published on Sunday.
The ultimatum followed other publicised concerns made during his trip, but it was stronger in tone.
And its issuance was a calculated move, according to some analysts – apply public pressure after private diplomatic warnings.
“The message is: we warned you, now the article is public, and we are preparing to act collectively if China does not respond to the call for ‘give-and-take’,” said Sacha Courtial, a China researcher at the Paris-based Institut Jacques Delors think tank.