Macron Urges China to Address Global Trade Imbalances

French President Emmanuel Macron has threatened China with tariffs during his state visit to China if there is no action taken to reduce the widening trade deficit with the European Union. Macron stated that the trade surplus China enjoys is unsustainable, as it damages their own customers by limiting imports from Europe.

He noted that the EU's goods trade deficit with China has increased by nearly 60 percent since 2019, and he emphasized the tough position European industries are in, caught between U.S. protectionism and the influx of Chinese goods.

He also proposed a more conciliatory approach, suggesting the dismantling of restrictions on exports of semiconductor machinery from Europe and limitations on rare earth exports from China. Macron called for Chinese companies to invest in Europe to create value and opportunities, reinforcing his previous stance on enhancing a unified European approach to trade with China.