French President Emmanuel Macron issued a sharp warning to Washington on Wednesday, declaring that Europe will not be intimidated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to impose massive tariffs unless Denmark agrees to sell Greenland.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Macron characterized the U.S. stance as "blackmail" and warned that ceding to such pressure would lead to the "vassalization" of the European continent. "We prefer respect to bullies," Macron told the assembly, sporting aviator sunglasses to protect a burst blood vessel in his eye. "The rule of law is preferable to brutality."
A High-Stakes Trade Standoff The dispute centers on a February 1 deadline set by President Trump. He has pledged to impose a 10% tariff on eight European allies—including France, Germany, and the UK—rising to 25% in June, until the U.S. is granted control of the autonomous Danish territory. Trump cites "national security" and Arctic resource competition as his primary motives. While some European leaders have maintained a cautious tone, Macron emerged as the bloc’s most vocal critic. He denounced the "endless accumulation" of U.S. tariffs as fundamentally unacceptable, particularly when used to undermine territorial sovereignty.
The 'Trade Bazooka' In response to the threats, EU leaders have scheduled an emergency summit in Brussels for Thursday evening. The bloc is weighing two major retaliatory measures: • Reactivating suspended tariffs: Reinstating duties on €93 billion ($101 billion) of U.S. goods, including iconic brands like Harley-Davidson and Levi's. • The "Trade Bazooka": Activating the Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) for the first time. This would allow the EU to block U.S. companies from public contracts and restrict digital service platforms. The diplomatic rift follows recent personal friction, including President Trump’s public release of Macron’s private messages and threats against French wine and champagne. "It is a shift toward a world without rules," Macron said of the escalation, which he described Tuesday as "crazy."
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