French President Emmanuel Macron implored President Trump not to wage trade wars against U.S. allies as the May 1 deadline looms for six countries and the European Union to negotiate their exclusion from Trump’s proposed steel and aluminum tariffs.
“I hope he will not implement these new tariffs and he will decide for an exemption for the European Union. You don’t make trade war with your ally,” Macron said during an interview with “Fox News Sunday.”
“It’s too complicated if you make war against everybody. You make trade war against China, trade war against Europe, war in Syria, war against Iran. Come on, it doesn’t work,” he added. “You need allies. We are an ally.”
Trump signed a proclamation in March introducing a 25 percent tariff on most steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on most aluminum imports, with the exception of six countries and members of the EU, which received suspensions so they had more time to cut a deal with the U.S.
Trump will welcome Macron to Washington on April 23 for the first state visit of his presidency.
On April 25, Macron will also become the eighth French president to address the House and Senate since 1824, after accepting House Speaker Paul Ryan’s invitation to speak before a joint body of Congress.
