Macron Urges EU to Defend Interests in Tariff Dispute

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose 30-percent tariffs on European goods, urging the European Union to "resolutely defend European interests" in the face of escalating trade tensions.

Speaking ahead of high-stakes negotiations, Macron called on the EU to accelerate preparations for "credible countermeasures" should talks with Washington fail to yield a resolution before the August 1 deadline, when the tariffs are set to take effect.

"The European Union must not hesitate to mobilize all instruments at its disposal to protect our economic sovereignty," Macron said, emphasizing unity and firmness as key to confronting what he described as unjustified protectionism.

The warning adds to mounting pressure on Brussels, which has been scrambling to defuse a potential transatlantic trade conflict while safeguarding key industries and economic stability within the bloc.