The President of France, Emmanuel Macronexplained that the European Union will have to consider additional trade measures against China if Xi Jinping’s regime does not take concrete steps to reduce its gigantic surplus with the bloc.
The warning came after his visit to Beijing, where he held a series of meetings on the issue Imbalance in bilateral trade. In statements to the French newspaper Les EchoesThe President stated that he had informed the Chinese authorities that “its surplus is not maintained” and that this situation is “killing their own customers.”
The data supports Paris’ concerns. France’s goods deficit with China has been exceeded 54 billion dollars last year, according to figures from the French Ministry of Finance.
For the European Union The picture is even broader: Beijing recorded a surplus of around $143 billion with the bloc in the first half of 2025, an unprecedented figure for a six-month period, according to official Chinese statistics.
The massive arrival of products from the Chinese market – from electronic devices to automobiles – has put pressure on European industrial sectors, particularly the machinery and automotive sectors.
Macron claimed that he had presented these figures to his interlocutors in Beijing and stressed that if there was no change, EU countries must “take strong action”which could include tariffs similar to those of the United States.
“If they do not respond, we Europeans will be forced to take decoupling measures in the coming months, as the United States has done.”“, he remarked.
Macron also confirmed that he had raised this possibility with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenas part of the discussion about the continent’s competitiveness.
The French President also warned this The EU faces a combination of trade pressure from Washington and Beijing. On the one hand, the tariffs introduced by the US government have redirected part of Chinese export flows to Europe. On the other hand, European companies operating in China have expressed concern about the deterioration of the economic climate and limited market opening.
For Macron, the result is this Europe “has become an adjustment market”which he defined as “the worst possible scenario.”
Although he defended the need for a well-coordinated response, he acknowledged that there was reluctance in some member states, including Germany. He pointed that out Berlin maintains close trade relations with Chinabut indicated that the German government is “becoming aware” of the impact of the imbalance. In any case, he stressed that without a unified position it “will be impossible” to address the problem.
Macron proposed a parallel path focused on economic cooperation as long as clear borders are defined. He suggested that the EU should eliminate certain ones Export restrictions for modern semiconductor machines if China removes barriers to the transport of rare earths and other critical goods to Europe.
He also called on Beijing to expand its investments in the bloc in sectors such as batteries, renewable energy and robotics, but warned that “they should not be predatory” or create strategic dependencies.
The president placed these debates within a broader change that he believes Europe needs to make. He mentioned the need to simplify regulations, deepen the internal market and advance a more integrated industrial policy.
As a reference, he cited the report of the former president of the European Central Bank Mario Draghiwhich proposes strengthening the continent’s productive capacity. Macron added that the ECB should review the pace of government bond sales as this could put upward pressure on interest rates and slow the economy.
“Europe must remain an area of monetary and investment stability that can be trusted“, he explained.
The French head of state emphasized that any dialogue with China must be based on precise goals.
As he explained, Europe must protect its industrial base, correct significant trade imbalances and ensure that foreign investment does not jeopardize sectors considered strategic.
“The aim is to establish rules that ensure fair competition and balanced economic conditions,” he concluded.
(With information from EFE and Europa Press)
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