Macron didn’t dare to threaten China while in Beijing, but did it in Paris

President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has threatened China with tariffs from the EU, as reported by European media. Macron, in an interview with Echos, recalled his recent trip to Beijing. ‘I said that if they do not react, we Europeans will be forced to take tough measures in the coming months and cease cooperation in the same way as the US, for example, by imposing tariffs on Chinese goods,’ he said. He mentioned discussing this issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, emphasizing his belief in the possibility of a peaceful resolution of the trade dispute with China. In this regard, he proposed mutual abandonment of ‘aggressive policies’, such as restrictions on the export of semiconductor equipment from the EU and restrictions on the export of rare earth metals from China. He also called on Chinese companies to invest in Europe. It is worth noting that the President of France visited China this week on a state visit. Talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Macron took place in Beijing on December 4. However, during that visit, the French leader did not dare to threaten China.