
Paris – Stéphane Séjourné, the Vice-President of the Commission overseeing industrial strategy, stated on France Inter radio that “we cannot pursue a trade war while simultaneously developing European defense.”
He emphasized that the agreement with the United States represents a step towards reducing reliance on European defense and establishing security guarantees that complement NATO. However, he noted that this cannot be achieved amidst a trade conflict. Moreover, he highlighted that national budgets are not equipped to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP across the board.
Stéphane Séjourné pointed out that a trade war would hinder effective organization, particularly regarding support for the eastern front, which includes aid to Ukraine. “If we are faced with a trade war, it will come at a significant cost to us,” he asserted.
When asked whether the EU should retaliate forcefully in the event of a trade war, Séjourné remained cautious. He warned that higher tariffs on American goods would negatively impact Europeans as well, and added that “the trade balance with the United States is currently quite favorable to Europe.” (January 20, 2025)













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