Macron warns against Trump’s tariff pressure: “Europe will not bow down”

\r\r\r【The Financial News, New York City = Reporter Lee Byung-chul】In a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on the 20th local time, French President Emmanuel Macron declared, "France and Europe will not passively accept the 'law of the strongest,'" warning, "If we do, Europe will ultimately become a vassal." While other European leaders have used relatively cautious language out of concern that tensions could escalate, Macron was widely seen as launching an unusually direct and open counterattack that day.
Macron stressed, "We choose respect over intimidation" and "We choose the rule of law over violence." By framing President Donald Trump’s tariff pressure as "intimidation against territorial sovereignty," he made clear the principles that will guide Europe’s response.
Macron noted that "the world is moving toward a place where rules are disappearing," but vowed that Europe would stand firm to defend territorial sovereignty and the rule of law. He effectively formalized a warning that the European Union (EU) could respond with tough trade measures, including retaliatory high tariffs.
The European Union (EU) has concluded that the current situation could escalate beyond a simple trade dispute into a sovereignty issue, and has moved into emergency-response mode. EU leaders agreed over the weekend to hold an emergency summit in Brussels this week to coordinate their response to the Greenland situation.
The EU may also revive a 93-billion-euro tariff package against the United States that had been put on hold following a trade agreement with President Donald Trump last summer.
Macron in particular has repeatedly pressed for the EU to consider triggering the so-called "trade bazooka," the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI). This measure could escalate into restrictions on U.S. companies’ participation in EU public procurement, or limits on trade in services such as tech platforms.
Calling it "crazy that things have come this far," Macron criticized Trump-style tariff pressure as having crossed the line of acceptable diplomatic practice.
The dispute has already taken on an emotional tone. President Donald Trump said the previous day, "If Macron does not join the 'Board of Peace' that I am leading, I will impose a 200% tariff on French wine and Champagne."
President Donald Trump then went on to post private messages exchanged with President Emmanuel Macron on his social media platform Truth Social. Because such a move is considered almost taboo in diplomatic custom, backlash in Europe is expected to intensify. A close aide to Macron confirmed that the messages were authentic.
In the messages, Macron bluntly told Trump, "I do not understand what you are trying to do in Greenland," and reportedly proposed hosting a Group of Seven (G7) summit that would also invite Russia and other countries. However, the exact date when the messages were exchanged has not been disclosed.
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pride@fnnews.com Reporter Lee Byung-chul Reporter