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@bfmbusiness“Instruments of blackmail”: Macron says that Trump's tariffs are an “aberration” for poverty and the climate
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Macron Calls Big-Power Tariffs ‘Blackmail,’ Presses for WTO Overhaul
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French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Monday that tariffs imposed by powerful nations are often used as a form of “blackmail” rather than as legitimate tools to correct trade imbalances. Speaking at the United Nations’ International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, he said the world must restore “freedom and equity” to commerce instead of erecting barriers devised by the strongest economies.
Macron called the resurgence of trade wars an “aberration” that undermines efforts to fight poverty and climate change, particularly when levies target countries that are “just beginning their economic take-off.” He urged a rethink of the World Trade Organization so that its rules align with goals to reduce inequality and curb global warming.
Although he did not name the United States, Macron’s comments echoed criticism of the sweeping import duties announced by Washington in April, which set rates of 10% to 50% before being eased for 90 days. The United Nations trade agency has cautioned that such measures could have a catastrophic effect on developing economies, including Lesotho, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Macron’s intervention comes as the European Union negotiates a trade accord with the United States ahead of a 9 July deadline. He said development financing will remain central when France takes over the G7 presidency next year, highlighting the need for a trading system that supports both economic growth and climate objectives.
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