French leader calls for swift end to EU-US trade disputes amid geopolitical strains

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the EU and the US to swiftly resolve their ongoing trade disputes, emphasising the need for a fair and reciprocal tariff system amid rising geopolitical tensions.

"The best tariff is zero for zero, but if it is 10 [percent] for 10, so be it. Our goodwill must not be mistaken for weakness," President Macron said, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Macron criticised the current state of transatlantic trade relations, highlighting the continued presence of what he called “excessive tariffs” in some sectors, which he argued are detrimental to both economies. 

He urged both sides to avoid letting the negotiations drag on indefinitely.

The French leader said that they did not want the situation to continue indefinitely and emphasised that his concern was not just a matter of principle, warning that the longer the dispute lasted, the greater the damage the tariffs would cause.

The French president also underscored the importance of the EU taking a firm stance in the negotiations. 

He called on Brussels to “use all available levers” to ensure that the final agreement is fair and protects European interests.

By Naila Huseynova