Donning aviator sunglasses indoors, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at his venue at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The mystery surrounding this accessory has captured some of the attention of the French politician’s speech, who, incidentally, has indicated that the EU should not hesitate to use all the mechanisms at its disposal to protect its interests, in relation to the anti-coercion instrument.
The head of the Elysée warned that restoring a trade war, with protectionism from the US and overproduction from China, will only produce losers. Thus, he has asked that europe be “strong” and use the “tools at its disposal”, such as the anti-coercion mechanism: ”it is indeed a powerful instrument. We must not hesitate to use it,” he asserted.
This would be the first time the EU has resorted to this instrument, as the french politician has recognized, who has seen the escalation of tensions with Washington put 200% pressure on tariffs on French wine and champagne. “We will feel it, but it is a consequence of not having so much predictability,” Macron added.
The French liberal referred to the scenario of “competition” with the US, which through its trade policy seeks to undermine export interests and ”weaken and subordinate Europe”. That is why he pointed out that tariffs are “unacceptable if used to take advantage of territorial integrity.”
“This is not the time for a new imperialism or a new colonialism”, warned the President of France, who emphasized that there are currently more open wars than in 2024. The scenario of force and imperial ambition takes a back seat to the international rules built in recent decades: “we are killing the structure that would allow us to solve the situation,” he added.
The Gallic leader began his speech ironically about the moment of “peace, stability and predictability” that we are going through. In his speech, he focused on the disastrous consequences of applying tariff policies from across the Atlantic, the need for the EU to activate its anti-coercion instrument for the first time in response, and the EU’s duty to protect its internal market to avoid distortions caused by third countries.
Underlying this are the tensions with the US Executive of Donald Trump, who a few days ago
El presidente francés, Emmanuel Macron, ha defendido este jueves en el Foro Económico Mundial de Davos la posibilidad de utilizar por primera vez el “arma anticoerción” de la Unión Europea contra aquellos países que, a su juicio, utilizan su poder económico para presionar a otros.
“No debemos dudar en usarla”, ha afirmado Macron en una mesa redonda sobre geopolítica y economía, en la que ha advertido de que la UE debe ser más asertiva en la defensa de sus intereses.
El “arma anticoerción” es un instrumento legal que la UE está desarrollando para contrarrestar medidas coercitivas de terceros países, como sanciones o bloqueos comerciales, que puedan afectar a sus intereses.
Macron ha señalado que esta herramienta es necesaria para proteger a los países de la UE de presiones indebidas y para garantizar un campo de juego justo en el comercio internacional.
“Si queremos ser un actor geopolítico creíble, debemos ser capaces de defendernos”, ha insistido el presidente francés.
En su intervención, Macron también ha abogado por una mayor cooperación entre la UE y Estados unidos para hacer frente a los desafíos globales, como el cambio climático, la seguridad alimentaria y la inestabilidad geopolítica.
Macron in Davos: “We must not hesitate to use the anti-coercion weapon for the first time”
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, stated in Davos that the European Union should not hesitate to use its anti-coercion instrument for the first time, in response to protectionist measures taken by the United States with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).Macron warned that Europe must be more assertive in defending its interests and avoid being naive in the face of economic nationalism.
“We must not be naive. We must not hesitate to use the anti-coercion weapon if necessary,” Macron declared during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He argued that the IRA, which offers substantial subsidies to companies investing in green technologies in the US, is discriminatory and violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
The french president emphasized the need for Europe to strengthen its own industrial base and reduce its dependence on other countries. He also called for a more coordinated European response to the challenges posed by the IRA, including the possibility of imposing retaliatory measures.
Macron’s remarks reflect growing concerns in Europe about the potential impact of the IRA on European competitiveness. Several European leaders have criticized the US law, arguing that it creates an uneven playing field and could lead to a trade war.
the anti-coercion instrument, which was adopted by the EU in 2021, allows the bloc to take countermeasures against non-EU countries that attempt to interfere in its policies. It has never been used before, and its application would be a meaningful escalation in trade tensions between Europe and the United States.
