Faced with Trump’s customs duties, Emmanuel Macron is looking for response tracks – Liberation
Emmanuel Macron hires the showdown. Facing « Shock for international trade » caused by The American decree generalizing customs duties At least 10 % on imports arriving in the United States and 20 % for European products, the president says he is « Defeat not to let it go, defend us and protect us ».
The day after the blow of the massage inflicted by Donald Trump, the Elysée rose in an emergency on Wednesday a crisis meeting with the representatives of the most exporting and particularly affected sectors (aeronautics, chemistry, industry, agriculture and viticulture, automobile, luxury, etc.). Far from reassuring them, Macron brushs a dark picture of the commercial upset, worried about a « Massive impact (which) will touch all sectors ». Especially since he sees « The indirect consequences of these movements »: also struck, the countries of Asia could « Redirect their flows to Europe ». And among the still exempt sectors, The executive fears new American tariff measures on the pharmacy, wood or semiconductors, « Probably at least 25 % », Prognostic already Macron.
To hold the balance of power, you still have to be grouped. Hence this warning in the face of the temptation to escape American taxation: “The biggest will tend to play solo. If the answer is to make immediate concessions and to announce investments to negotiate exemptions, it is a very bad idea. ” The head of state pleads to suspend « A time » investments in the United States: « What would be the message if European players investigated in the American economy when they are typing us? » Remotely, the ears of Rodolphe Saadé, CEO of CMA-CGM, third world shipowner, coming to announce, in early March in the oval office, $ 20 billion in investments On American soil, had to whistle. But will the bosses obey? Nothing obliges them to follow this vibrant call to economic patriotism.
The warning against « The lonely escape » Also applied for member states, asked to play the game of the European response. The president who spoke Thursday by phone with Ursula von der Leyen, recalled The two -step plan preparing for the European Commission : A first salvo, relating to American taxes already decided (especially on steel and aluminum) is planned in mid-April. A second, in response to the decree signed Wednesday by Trump, should follow by the end of the month. Brussels could draw in a palette of tools: pricing replicas, anti-coercion mechanism, Digital services tax.
Thursday morning on RTL, government spokesperson Sophie Primas had advanced the possibility of« Also attack services », of which « Digital services that today are not taxed, GAFAMs for example ». Enough to cringe in Matignon and the Elysée. « These announcements are not its responsibility, it is not a French but European subject », tackle a government advisor. Rest that « All the instruments are on the table », warns Macron, who wants to believe that a « Unified response » would lead to « A dismantling of prices ». Without certainty that the twenty-seven are all ready to show the muscles.
