Paris, April 5, 2025 — French President Emmanuel Macron has called on French companies to immediately suspend all investment projects in the United States following the announcement of sweeping new U.S. tariffs on European imports by former President Donald Trump.
In a sharp rebuke to Trump’s decision to impose a 20% tariff on European goods, Macron described the move as “brutal and unfounded,” warning it could backfire and damage the American economy and consumers.
“The decisions made will weaken and impoverish the U.S. economy and its citizens, whether they are companies or individuals,” Macron stated on Friday during a high-level meeting at the Élysée Palace with industry leaders, trade representatives, and key government ministers.
The emergency meeting was convened in response to Trump’s tariff announcement on Wednesday, which has rattled French and European exporters, particularly in sectors like steel, aluminium, automotive, and luxury goods.
Macron urged business leaders to freeze any ongoing or planned U.S. investments until there is greater clarity from Washington. “It is important that upcoming investments or those announced in recent weeks are put on hold until matters with the United States are clarified,” he told the gathered representatives.
He went on to question the strategic logic of supporting the U.S. economy at a time when European industries are being targeted. “What message would we be sending if major European players invest billions of euros in the American economy while they are undermining us?” Macron asked.
The French President also used the occasion to call for a coordinated European response, emphasizing the need for unity among EU member states. He outlined a two-phase approach to dealing with the tariffs, starting with immediate countermeasures.
“The first response is due by mid-April and concerns the already decided tariffs, particularly on steel and aluminium,” Macron said. “A more extensive second response should follow at the end of the month, after a detailed study of each sector in light of Wednesday’s announcement.”
Prime Minister François Bayrou, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, and Foreign Trade Minister Franck Riester were also present at the meeting, alongside executives from key French export sectors and representatives of employer organizations such as MEDEF.
The new tariffs are widely seen as part of Trump’s renewed “America First” trade agenda, a central pillar of his ongoing presidential campaign. The former U.S. president has defended the move as necessary to protect American jobs and industry, particularly in manufacturing and steel.
However, the reaction in Europe has been swift and pointed. EU officials are expected to meet next week in Brussels to discuss possible retaliatory measures, including tariffs on U.S. products and restrictions on American firms operating in the European market.
Macron’s stance is likely to be influential in shaping the bloc’s response, especially as other European leaders voice concern over what they see as an escalation in transatlantic trade tensions.
“We will not be passive,” Macron concluded. “Europe must act firmly and in unity.”
