Macron: France values "respect rather than bullying"

French President Macron said that France places greater emphasis on "respect rather than bullying", and refuses "unacceptable" tariff threats.

AFP reported that Macron said on Tuesday (January 20th) at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland: "France and Europe value national sovereignty and independence, and respect the United Nations and its charter."

He said: "We will do our best to build a stronger and more autonomous Europe... In the heart of this continent, we believe that the world needs more growth and more stability."

"We value respect more than bullying... We value the rule of law more than savagery." Macron warned that the world is "heading towards a world without rules" and one that "lacks effective collective governance", which will lead to endless competition.

He pointed out that the United States has launched competition against Europe through trade agreements, which "harm our export interests, demand the greatest concessions, and openly aim to weaken and control Europe."

He criticized that these agreements, "when combined with the constantly accumulating new tariffs, are simply unacceptable." "And it becomes even more unacceptable when these tariffs are used as a means to violate territorial sovereignty."