The leaders of France and Germany met to discuss Trump’s threat of tariffs

By Andreas Rinke, Elisabeth Pineau

PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sought to forge unity at a meeting in Paris on Wednesday, as Europe struggles to find a unified response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

Trump, who has threatened more pressure on Canada, Mexico and China, said on Tuesday that Europe has a looming trade surplus with the United States and that “tariffs are going to be imposed.”

Speaking to reporters before a working lunch at the Elysee Palace, both Macron and Scholes insisted that Europe was strong and that the Franco-German tandem was strong, with problems awaiting.

“President Trump is going to be a challenge, something that is clear,” Scholes said.

“Our position is clear. Europe is a large economic area with about 450 million citizens. We are strong, we stand together, and Europe will not hide.”

Macron has long pushed for a more self-reliant Europe.

“With the inauguration of a new administration in the United States, it is more important than ever that Europeans and our two countries play their role in strengthening a united, strong and sovereign Europe,” he said.

The two leaders cited the steel, auto and chemical sectors – potential targets for US tariffs – as vital to the European economy.

Transactions with Trump

Some business leaders and analysts say Trump’s first term in office offers evidence that he will often launch tariffs and other measures without ultimately implementing them.

But others fear it could be bolstered by a stronger public mandate and more support in both houses of Congress.

“The European Union is very, very bad for us,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday. “So they’re going to go in for a tariff. It’s the only way … you’re going to get justice.”

Many EU countries have export-oriented economies. Facing high energy costs due to the war in Ukraine and the slowdown in trade with China, they do not like the idea of ​​a new front with the US.

“We have entered a new phase of negotiations with the US,” French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas told reporters ahead of the meeting. “Our relationship with President Trump is transactional. We need to be determined as America, we need to show our strength.”

Macron, who lost a snap election last year and has four prime ministers in 2024 alone – and Scholes, who is trailing his conservative rival in polls ahead of next month’s German election – are politically weakened at home.

The pair have diverged on many issues in recent years, reducing decision-making in the EU and leaving a leadership vacuum that EU institutions have struggled to fill.

“Franco-German relations must warm up very strongly and quickly,” said one French government source, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Europe will not restart without a strong Franco-German couple.”

But as leading German politicians push for a free trade deal between Europe and the US, France says the EU should reject economic coercion and implement tariffs if attacked.