French President Macron issued a stark warning Monday, calling Trump’s push for reciprocal tariffs on China and Europe “suicidal” as the U.S. prepares to impose duties on Canada and Mexico.
Trump told reporters Monday that the tariffs he announced on Canada and Mexico are proceeding as expected, following a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who advocated for “fair competition” in trade.
While Trump is threatening both allies and enemies with new tariffs, prompting a flurry of discussions, the two presidents met to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
Imports from Canada and Mexico might face levies of up to 25% soon after Trump took office. He justified the move by pointing to the flow of deadly fentanyl and illegal immigration.
Still, he abruptly put a month’s worth of taxes on hold as negotiations continued.
Everyone is waiting to see if the North American neighbors can reach an agreement to delay their implementation, which would disrupt supply chains in important industries like automotive production, when the pause ends next Tuesday.
At a news conference on Monday, Trump assured reporters that the tariffs will go as planned.
Earlier on Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that talks with Washington will continue this week to avert the broad tariffs; this was followed by Trump’s statement.
She was hopeful that she and Trump might achieve a compromise, and she even dropped hints about possible tariffs on Chinese goods as a bargaining chip.
In addition, Sheinbaum gave the impression that Mexico was amenable to reviewing its trade deal with the US and Canada early rather than waiting until the 2026 deadline.
In a separate development, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly informed reporters on Monday that tariffs are a genuine concern and they might last for some time.
During his joint news conference with Macron, Trump reaffirmed that the United States is pursuing “reciprocity” with other nations, The Raw Story reports.
He went on to say that if the United States is unfairly charged, we will retaliate.
The interconnectedness of the American and European economies was pointed out by Macron, who urged Trump to ensure “fair competition” in trade.
Despite Trump’s focus on commodities trade, Macron noted that the US is a leading exporter of digital products.
More investments should be made on both sides, he argued.
Trump has announced plans for “reciprocal tariffs” that would be customized for each country, with details to be announced later, in addition to blanket taxes on Canada and Mexico, two of the US’s most important trading partners.
Later that day, Macron spoke with Fox News, where he criticized the Trump administration’s tariff promises from several angles.
“Come on. You cannot have a trade war with China and Europe at the same time,” Macron claimed, adding that he hoped he could persuade Trump too.
“The transatlantic relation is at a very important moment and the top priority is to work together very closely, to have a good, solid and sustainable peace in full transparency,” he stated.
Luis Gochoco is a seasoned managing editor and writer with over a decade of experience covering politics, technology, gaming, and entertainment news. With a keen eye for breaking stories and in-depth analysis, he has established himself as a trusted voice in digital journalism. Luis is one of the key forces behind the success of GameNGuide, contributing to 12 million views through engaging and high-traffic content. He also played a pivotal role in generating 8 million views on International Business Times, shaping the platform’s technology and gaming coverage.
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