This is a sharp self -criticism allegedly addressed by Emmanuel Macron to his ministers during the Council of Ministers on Wednesday (30.07.2025), according to a Politico analysis. Reacting to the agreement concluded last Sunday between European Union And the United States – after Ursula von der Laienne’s meeting with US President Donald Trump – the French president allegedly said: “We must be afraid of us. We didn’t cause enough fear. “
Emmanuel Macron remained remarkably silent in the first few days after the agreement signed by Ursula von der Laen and the Donald Trumpwhich provides for 15% duties on most European exports to the US. Paris sees it as a strategic defeat, unlike Rome and Berlin, which welcomed it as a necessary compromise.
Macron, although recognizing the efforts of European negotiators “under difficult circumstances”, noted that there is still room. “History is not over. We will not stop here, “he said.
Inner pressures and French discomfort
Always according to the PoliticoFrench government ministers, such as Laurent Saint-Marten (foreign trade) and Benzamen Handad (European affairs), have called on the Commission to threaten by activating the mechanism against economic coercive pressure, which enables the European markets to enforce restrictions on foreign markets.
Although France publicly supported the committee’s strategy, it was also behind the scenes to protect sensitive sectors such as wine and alcoholic beverages. For its part, the Commission replies that this is the best possible agreement, compared to the 30% duty scenario initially promoted by Washington.