Amid mounting trade friction between the European Union and China, President Emmanuel Macron made a call to Chinese President Xi Jinping, a move that highlights France’s push to ease trade with Beijing while reinforcing its diplomatic presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
As he prepares to embark on a diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia, Macron held a strategic call with Xi, pressing for progress on a key trade dispute and backing closer cooperation on global flashpoints such as Ukraine and Gaza.
Although Macron won’t be heading to China himself – having made a state visit there in April 2023 – his outreach signals France’s intent to stay closely engaged with Beijing.
Thursday's phone call centred around ongoing trade tensions between China and the EU, particularly those over Beijing’s tariffs on French cognac.
Since last October, Chinese authorities have slapped anti-dumping duties on European brandy, a move widely seen as retaliation for EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.
The dispute is hitting France hard – its €1.4 billion-a-year cognac exports to China have taken a €50 million monthly hit.
“Chinese investment is welcome in France,” Macron wrote on social media platform X after the call. “But our companies must enjoy fair competition in both countries."
He added that the two leaders had agreed to push “as quickly as possible” to resolve the cognac issue – an encouraging sign for French producers eagerly awaiting a breakthrough.
Macron's China visit reaps cultural, economic rewards but stalls on Ukraine
International cooperation
Beyond trade, the discussion covered broader international cooperation. Macron voiced support for dialogue on Ukraine and Gaza, reflecting France’s diplomatic stance that global challenges require multilateral solutions.
His criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza has become notably sharper in recent months, which French officials believe may resonate during the president’s upcoming visit to Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.
Macron’s tour – taking in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore – aims to position France and Europe as partners of choice in a region increasingly caught in the tug of war between Washington and Beijing.
Macron outlines France's vision for Asia-Pacific relations, rejects confrontation
According to the Élysée Palace, the French leader will champion “rules-based” international trade and diplomacy, offering an alternative to what one official described as the “coercive or predatory” approaches seen elsewhere.
Macron is also expected to speak at the prestigious Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore – Asia’s top defence forum – where he will seek to “clear up misunderstandings” about Europe’s position on global conflicts.
(with newswires)
