Macron: US tariff policy is attempt at subjugation, but Europe has tools to respond

French President Emmanuel Macron has accused US President Donald Trump of seeking to “weaken and subjugate” Europe through the imposition of tariffs on European countries.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Macron said that the United States, by pursuing trade agreements and imposing tariffs, is undermining Europe’s export interests and demanding excessive concessions.

“Competition through trade agreements from the United States undermines our export interests, demands maximum concessions and openly aims to weaken and subjugate Europe,” the French President said.

He added that this approach is being accompanied by a continual accumulation of new tariffs, which he described as “fundamentally unacceptable”.

Macron stressed that Europe has strong means at its disposal to respond to such pressure.

“Europe has very powerful tools, and we must use them whenever we are not respected and when the rules of the game are not being followed,” he said.