Like Trump, Macron threatens China with imposing customs duties in the coming months

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Like Trump, Macron threatens China with imposing customs duties in the coming months

The French President waved Emmanuel Macron Assuming Customs duties on China In the coming months, if Beijing does not take measures to reduce the continuing widening trade deficit with the European Union.

In an interview published on Sunday in the newspaper "Lesico" French daily, said Macron upon his return from an official visit to China: "I informed them that if they did not act, we Europeans would be forced, in the next few months, to take strict measures similar to the United States, such as imposing customs duties on Chinese products."

Redirecting Chinese trade flows

Washington imposes high customs duties on Chinese products, and these duties were reduced from 57% to 47% according to an agreement announced at the end of October between the two countries.

Macron indicated that "China is attacking the core of the European industrial and innovation model, which has historically relied on operating machines and cars"

The protectionist policy pursued by the Trump administration exacerbates the situation, and Macron said that this policy "Our problems are compounded by the significant redirection of Chinese trade flows to our markets"

He continued: "Today we are stuck between the two extremes, and this is a matter of life and death for European industry"

Chinese investments in Europe

During his visit to China, Macron stressed the need for Europe to accept Chinese investments in order to reduce its trade deficit with China.

He told the newspaper "Lesico": "We cannot import constantly – Chinese companies have to come to Europe"

There are about 10 areas of interest, the most important of which are batteries, lithium refining, wind energy, photovoltaic energy, electric vehicles, air heat pumps, consumer electronics, recycling technologies, industrial robots, and advanced components.

Macron stressed that Chinese investments in Europe "It should not be exploitative, that is, it should not aim to impose domination and create subordination".