Every day that separates us from the 1is August sees the concern of French companies is increasing. On that date, in fact, Donald Trump’s threat to knock out Europe with customs duties will apply unilaterally, if no agreement has been reached by then with the American giant. However, it’s been weeks that the European debate goes around in circles: should we negotiate, as several countries have done in the world, or threaten? Should we sign or resist?
In this essential file for our future, feeling is strengthened that France is isolated. As was the case in 2018, during the first term of Donald Trump, with the taxation of customs duties on steel and aluminum, Germany and even more Italy are favorable to negotiations. The European Commission itself appears to be inclined to seek a compromise, the main thing being to avoid at all costs the sanction-maly that would represent a brutal increase of 30 % of customs tariffs.
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Protectionism must remain reasoned and reasonable – by Emmanuel Combe
It is not the position of Emmanuel Macron, who defends the idea of reprisals and seems to want to go to the Bras-de-Fer with the administration of the United States.
Everything happens as if the President of the Republic, by bombing the chest against Trump, had decided to make this file the symbol of his vision of a power power. As if he had chosen political posture rather than economic realism, his image rather than the fate of European companies. But what is the concept of European strategic autonomy worth, so dear to Emmanuel Macron, without the solidity and power of our industry and our services? What would a personal victory for the head of state be used if it was accompanied by a deadly weakening of several economic sectors in Europe? Being the oldest European leader on the continent will not be enough to be right alone against all.
