Macron hits out at U.S. tariffs and ‘bullying’ at Davos (Full Transcript)
[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Without collective governance, cooperation gives way to relentless competition. Competition from the United States of America, through trade agreements that undermine our export interests, demand maximum concessions, and openly aim to weaken and subordinate Europe, combined with an endless accumulation of new tariffs that are fundamentally unacceptable, even more so when they are used as leverage against territorial sovereignty.
[00:00:29] Speaker 2: French President Emmanuel Macron just took direct aim at President Trump in a speech at Davos. He was wearing reflective, aviator-style glasses because he says he has an eye infection.
[00:00:40] Speaker 1: We do believe that we need more growth, we need more stability in this world, but we do prefer respect to bullies, we do prefer science to plotism, and we do prefer rule of law to brutality.
[00:00:53] Speaker 2: This speech comes as Trump is threatening European countries with tariffs until a deal to purchase Greenland is reached.
- Macron warns that absent collective governance, international cooperation devolves into relentless competition.
- He accuses the U.S. of pursuing trade deals and tariff escalation that undermine European export interests and sovereignty.
- Macron frames Europe’s preferred approach as respect, science, and rule of law over bullying and brutality.
- The remarks are contextualized by reports that Trump is threatening tariffs on Europe linked to negotiations over purchasing Greenland.