After US snub, Macron is embracing China in sunglasses
French President Emmanuel Macron has criticised what he described as growing economic pressure from the United States and called for closer engagement with China, after US President Donald Trump rejected his proposal for an emergency G7 meeting.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Macron warned that competition from the United States under President Trump risks undermining Europe’s economic interests. He said Washington’s approach sought to weaken and subordinate Europe through trade pressure and tariffs.
“Competition from the United States aims to undermine our export interests, demand maximum concessions and openly weaken and subordinate Europe,” Macron said. “This endless accumulation of new tariffs is fundamentally unacceptable.”
Macron also warned against what he described as a return to imperial-style economic dominance, saying global challenges required cooperation rather than confrontation.
“This is not a time for new imperialism or new colonialism,” he said. “It is a time for cooperation to address global challenges for our citizens."
China investment push
Against that backdrop, Macron said Europe should deepen economic engagement with China, particularly through increased Chinese investment in key sectors.
“China is welcome,” he said, adding that Europe needs more Chinese foreign direct investment that contributes to growth and technology transfer. He cautioned, however, against projects that rely heavily on subsidies or fail to meet European standards.
Macron also criticised trade wars and protectionist policies, warning they could damage global growth. “Economic coercion and tariff retaliation do not create winners,” he said. “They only produce losers,” he emphasised.
Trump rejects G7 meeting
Macron’s remarks come after President Trump dismissed a call by the French leader for an emergency G7 meeting, amid rising tensions over Washington’s interest in acquiring Greenland.
In the message, Macron said France and the United States were aligned on Syria and could work together on Iran, but expressed confusion over Trump’s position on Greenland.
“My friend, we are totally in line on Syria. We can do great things on Iran. I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland,” Macron wrote. He proposed hosting a G7 meeting in Paris and holding bilateral talks with Trump during the visit.
Speaking to reporters to mark the completion of his first year of a second term, Trump said he would not attend the proposed meeting and questioned Macron’s political future.
“No, I wouldn’t do that,” Trump said. “Because Emmanuel is not going to be there very long and there’s no longevity there.”
Trump later posted a screenshot on Truth Social of a message sent by Macron inviting him to Paris for talks following the World Economic Forum.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
