French President Emmanuel Macron expressed regret on Wednesday during a Cabinet meeting that the European Union has not been sufficiently “feared” in its trade negotiations with the United States and insisted that France will continue to demonstrate “demanding and firm” positions in ongoing discussions.
“The EU does not yet see itself enough as a power. To be free, one must be feared. We were not sufficiently feared,” stated Macron, commenting for the first time on the trade deal announced on Sunday between Brussels and Washington, according to remarks reported by participants.
“France has always maintained a firm and demanding stance. It will continue to do so. This is not the end of the story and we will not stop here,” he asserted.
The EU can secure “new exemptions” during further negotiations that will “formalise” the agreement, Macron noted, urging for persistent efforts to rebalance trade, particularly in the services sector.
Aligning with key European counterparts, Macron acknowledged that “the negotiations were conducted under difficult conditions” and that “the agreement offers short-term visibility and predictability.” It “protects French and European interests” in major export fields like aerospace, he highlighted.
Paris also lamented the manner in which the agreement was announced, with US President Donald Trump triumphantly standing alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
