PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about trade tensions and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Macron asked Xi to give French companies greater access to the Chinese market and not to impose tariffs on French Cognac producers, which are the target of an ongoing Chinese trade probe.
“Chinese investment is welcome in France. But our companies need a level playing field in both our countries,” Macron wrote in a social media post.
“We have agreed to move forward as quickly as possible on the issue of Cognac, which is essential for our producers,” he added.
Last week, Economy Minister Eric Lombard also raised the issue with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng during a meeting in Paris. Their six-hour discussion did not lead to a resolution of the Cognac spat, with He stressing that Chinese authorities would decide on the merits of the case.
The alcohol probe is widely seen as retaliation to punish France for being the top sponsor of EU tariffs on Chinese electric cars imposed last October. It is due to end in July.
Macron travels to Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore next week in a visit that an Elysée official described as an opportunity to increase influence in the Indo-Pacific region at a time in which “China is becoming increasingly assertive, especially in trade disputes and territorial disputes.”
Macron also pledged to work with China to reach a “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” in Ukraine.
Calling for peace and security in the Middle East, Macron said France and China would work together on the preparation of a June conference in New York for a two-state solution.
The post Macron talks tariffs and peace with Xi Jinping appeared first on Politico.
