Emmanuel Macron Calls Tariffs 'Blackmail,' White House Shoots Back Saying Trump Is 'Doing What's Right For Our People'

What Happened: Speaking at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, Macron called trade wars an “aberration” without directly naming Trump or the United States. His comments came as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that “all options remain on the table” in ongoing negotiations with Washington.

According to Reuters, Macron said, “we need to restore freedom and equity to international trade, much more than barriers and tariffs, which are devised by the strongest, and which are often used as instruments of blackmail, not at all as instruments of rebalancing”

Trump unveiled sweeping global tariffs in April, threatening duties ranging from 10% to 50% on imports before partially reversing course with 90-day extensions. The current EU tariff structure includes 10% on most goods, 25% on automobiles, and 50% on steel and aluminum. Without a deal by July 9, all EU products could face 50% tariffs.