French President Emmanuel Macron is poised to engage in discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his anticipated visit to Paris this Sunday, aiming to address pressing concerns surrounding trade imbalances and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Macron’s agenda includes advocating for a reduction in trade disparities between the European Union and China, alongside leveraging Xi’s influence to encourage diplomatic efforts towards resolving the Ukrainian crisis. However, amid escalating trade tensions between Europe and China, Macron’s objectives may face significant hurdles.
France has thrown its support behind a European Union investigation into Chinese electric vehicle exports, while also facing retaliatory measures from Beijing, exemplified by an investigation into French brandy imports initiated earlier this year.
“We want to obtain reciprocity of exchanges and have the elements of our economic security taken into account,” Macron emphasized in an interview with French newspaper La Tribune, underlining the significance of fair trade practices ahead of Xi’s two-day visit, his first in the region in five years.
Xi’s itinerary is set to include discussions with Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. However, the absence of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz from the Paris meetings underscores the EU’s internal divisions concerning its approach to China.
“In Europe, we are not unanimous on the subject because certain players still see China as essentially a market of opportunities,” Macron acknowledged, highlighting the divergence of opinions within the EU that could hamper its collective influence.
France aims to address several key issues during Xi’s visit, including access to the Chinese agricultural market and concerns regarding intellectual property rights in the French cosmetic industry.
