The French President will ask for a mechanism to limit Washington’s ability to enter European markets in the event of tariff increases
French President Emmanuel Macron plans to ask for the activation of the European Union’s anti-coercion mechanism during a day-long call with his European counterparts on Sunday if US President Donald Trump follows through on his threats to impose additional tariffs, according to people close to him.
This mechanism, which requires a qualified majority of EU member states, allows in particular to freeze access to European public procurement markets or prevent certain investments.
A source close to the French president said the US trade threats raise questions about the validity of the agreement on tariffs signed between the European Union and the United States last July.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the latter was fully engaged to coordinate a European response to Trump’s new unacceptable tariff threats.
Since Saturday, Barrot has been in contact with his British and German counterparts, as well as with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and will be in contact by Sunday evening with all the ministers of the countries involved in these charges.
On Saturday, the US president threatened several European countries that sent military personnel to Greenland with new tariffs if the territory wasn’t fully sold to the United States.
The additional 10% fee will come into effect from 1 February and may rise to 25% from 1 June.
In the face of these threats, an emergency meeting of EU ambassadors is expected to be held on Sunday afternoon in Brussels.
