Following a meeting between President Biden of the United States and President Macron of France in Paris, both leaders have agreed on the necessity of strengthening cooperation to address Beijing’s unfair economic practices.
During Biden’s state visit to Paris on Saturday, they discussed measures that the United States and Europe can take to enhance their economic resilience against the impacts of Chinese imports.
Macron stated at a press conference, “We share the same concerns over China’s potential unfair practices, which result in overcapacity. This issue is so crucial to the global economy that we need to take coordinated actions.”
A White House press release on Saturday reiterated Macron’s remarks, emphasizing, “Economically, we are concerned about China’s unfair trade practices that lead to overcapacity. This is so vital to the global economy that we must take coordinated actions.”
Bloomberg reported that earlier, under the umbrellas in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace, Biden told Macron that the United States and Europe should “coordinate” on domestic investments.
Biden also mentioned his recent conversation with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping, highlighting Xi’s opposition to the U.S. imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Biden stated that he defended the imposition of import tariffs during the discussion.
A “France-United States Roadmap” released by the White House on Saturday stated, “The two presidents reviewed and fully endorsed the G7 statement on China and will closely coordinate on various challenges related to measures and policies concerning China.”
Leaders of the G7 issued a statement in December 2023, mentioning China, stating, “The policy goals of the G7 are not designed to damage China nor prevent China’s economic development and progress.”
The statement continued, “A developing China that adheres to international rules aligns with global interests. We will not decouple from or close ourselves off from China. At the same time, we recognize that to enhance economic resilience, risks must be addressed and diversification achieved.
“We will take both individual and collective actions to invest in our economic vitality. We will reduce overreliance in critical supply chains.
“To establish sustainable economic relations with China and strengthen the international trading system, we will advocate for fair competitive environments for our workers and businesses. We will work to tackle the challenges posed by China’s non-market policies and practices distorting the global economy.
“We will combat malignant practices such as illegal technology transfers or data leaks. We will enhance resilience against economic threats.
“We also acknowledge the necessity to protect certain advanced technologies that could be used to threaten our national security, without excessively restricting trade and investment.”