France Delays G7 Talks on Trump's Tariff Threats
James RileyFrance postpones G7 meeting on Trump's tariffs amid conflicts, pushing for EU retaliation.
A key meeting of G7 finance officials, intended to address US President Donald Trump's recent tariff threats, has been postponed by France, which currently holds the group's presidency.
Scheduling Conflicts Push Back Key Meeting
The video conference, organized by French Finance Minister Roland Lescure, was originally scheduled for Wednesday. However, an official from the minister's office confirmed the meeting has been moved to the following week.
The delay is attributed to scheduling constraints, with many officials attending the World Economic Forum in Davos and managing conflicting ministerial agendas.
The Catalyst: Trump's Tariff Ultimatum
France announced its plan for the G7 meeting on Monday, directly following a threat from President Trump to impose 10% tariffs on certain European countries. The move was reportedly conditioned on the US being allowed to acquire Greenland.
Paris assumed the rotating G7 presidency at the start of January but has yet to outline its main priorities. The postponement comes just after the United States gathered ministers from G7 and other nations in Washington to discuss strategies for countering China's control over the rare earths market.
Macron Blasts US Strategy as "Unacceptable"
The French government is leading a push for a strong European response to the escalating threats from Washington. Speaking in Davos on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Trump's strategy, calling the proposed tariffs "fundamentally unacceptable."
In response, France is advocating for Europe to deploy its most powerful trade retaliation measure, known as the anti-coercion instrument.
