French President Emmanuel Macron has issued an ultimatum to Beijing, threatening coordinated punitive tariffs similar to those imposed by the United States. France demands that China address the trade imbalance by the end of 2026. Macron believes that China must ease restrictions on imports and adopt a policy of mutual concessions.

French officials accuse China of protectionism, particularly regarding its control over the export of rare earth metals. Analysts interpret Macron’s statements as public pressure on Beijing following unsuccessful private diplomatic engagements. In early November, it was revealed that the EU had made little progress in mitigating China’s control over rare earth elements, posing challenges to Europe’s quest for economic independence.

The threat of imposing tariffs highlights the growing tension in economic relations between the EU and China and signals Europe’s intent to leverage US-style trade policy tools to safeguard its interests.