French President Emmanuel Macron gave a speech at a global conference in Seville, Spain, while the European Union is trying to make a trade deal with the United States before July 9. Although Macron didn’t directly name the U.S. or President Donald Trump, his message seemed to be aimed at them.
He said that international trade needs to be fair and free. He criticized the use of tariffs and trade barriers, saying they are often created by powerful countries and used to pressure weaker ones. Instead of fixing problems, he said, they are used like weapons.
Macron also called for changes to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to help reduce inequality and fight climate change.
He warned against starting trade wars, especially now, saying, “It makes no sense to bring back trade wars and tariffs, especially when they hurt poor countries that are just starting to grow.”
Earlier in April, Trump announced new tariffs on imports to the U.S., with taxes between 10% and 50%. Later, he softened the plan and lowered the tariffs for 90 days.
In response to Macron’s comments, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the tariffs. She said they are helping rebuild American factories and jobs. She added, “Trump is back and will do what’s best for our country, even if the rest of the world isn’t used to it.”
The United Nations trade agency warned that the tariffs could badly hurt poor countries like Lesotho, Cambodia, Laos, Madagascar, and Myanmar, as they might face the highest taxes.
Macron, who strongly disagrees with Washington’s tariff strategy, also said it doesn’t make sense for Europe to be asked to spend more on defense while the U.S. starts a trade war with them.
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