Macron tells Trump tariffs are illegal

Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump have talked on the phone with the French president telling his US counterpart that new US tariffs are illegal.

French President Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron. Source: AAP

French President Emmanuel Macron has told US President Donald Trump that the new US tariffs on European, Mexican and Canadian goods are illegal and a "mistake."

Macron's office said in a statement on Friday that the two presidents spoke by phone after Trump's administration announced the decision on Thursday to impose 25 per cent tariffs on steel and 10 per cent tariffs on aluminium.

The European Union is planning retaliatory tariffs on US steel and food goods in the coming weeks, once it calculates the exact cost to European Union companies of the US tariffs.

Macron pledged the riposte would be "firm" and "proportionate" and in line with World Trade Organisation rules.

The US decision came despite last-minute talks in Paris this week to try to reach a deal.


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Source: AAP



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