Macron warns China of possible EU tariffs as trade deficit soars

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During a recent state visit to Beijing, Emmanuel Macron issued a stark warning to Beijing: if European Union (EU) member states do not see a change in trade imbalances, the bloc may be forced to levy new tariffs on Chinese goods. Macron has in the past sought to project a robust European front in dealing with China, while being careful not to antagonize Beijing, whose growing assertiveness is testing trade, security, and diplomatic ties, analysts say. Noah Barkin, a China analyst with Rhodium Group, recently said Macron must make it clear to China’s leadership that Europe will respond to growing economic and security threats from Beijing, while preventing an escalation of tensions that could lead to a full-blown trade war and diplomatic breakdown. “This is not an easy message to deliver,” Barkin said. In an interview published on Sunday by the French daily Les Echos, Macron said he urged China to increase cooperation on what he called “unsustainable” global trade imbalances, as well as on geopolitical issues and environmental concerns. “I tried to explain to the Chinese that their trade surplus is unsustainable because they are killing their own customers, particularly by no longer importing much from us,” Macron said in an interview published on Sunday by French daily Les Echos. “I told them that if they do not react, we Europeans would be forced, in the coming months, to take strong measures following the example of the United States, such as imposing tariffs on Chinese products,” he added. Economic risks mount as trade deficit threatens European industry The European Union’s goods trade deficit with China has increased almost 60% since 2019; France’s trade balance with the $19 trillion economy continues to widen. Macron had long advocated for a unified European stance on China and had been calling for measures…