Might makes right economic policy 'a huge mistake,' France's Macron says

Record ID: 2373164

  • Title: Might makes right economic policy 'a huge mistake,' France's Macron says
  • Date: 3rd April 2026
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (APRIL 3, 2026) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, ARRIVING FOR FRANCE-SOUTH KOREA ECONOMIC FORUM MACRON ON STAGE MACRON AND PANELLISTS ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING: "We (Europeans) are predictable. So sometimes, I understand, people say: 'This European Council
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Donald Trump EU Emmanuel Macron European Union global trade investment markets tariff
  • Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,International Trade
  • Reuters ID: LVA001974503042026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday (April 3) warned against a "might makes right" approach to international trade and a disregard for the rules-based trading system, saying the European Union was a "predictable" partner.
        Macron has previously directly criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies in similar terms, such as when he responded to Trump's threat to impose steep tariffs if Europe did not let him take over Greenland.
        "We believe that whoever is the strongest makes a huge mistake the day they decide that might makes right and abandon the common framework, because they create doubt among the others," he said.
        Macron arrived in South Korea on Thursday (April 2) for a two-day state visit after also visiting Japan, and held a summit in Seoul on Friday.
        It is the first state visit by a French president since 2015 and French officials have said the trip aims to strengthen France's strategic and economic role in the region at a time of "strong international and regional tensions."
    (Production: Dogyun Kim, Minwoo Park, Manuel Ausloos)
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