Since taking office, President Donald Trump has shaken up the global economic landscape with bold and often controversial measures. As tensions rise, French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Eric Lombard shares his perspective on the upcoming negotiations and their potential impact.
Interview with Eric Lombard, French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty
Since his inauguration on January 20, President Donald Trump has made waves internationally, setting his administration’s tone with a series of executive orders and sweeping economic policies. Most notably, his decision on April 2 to implement country-specific trade barriers has sparked strong reactions worldwide. At the GO ENTREPRENEUR expo in Paris, Eric Lombard addressed the issue and its implications.
What are your thoughts on the global economic impact of the U.S. president’s decisions?
Eric Lombard: “It’s no surprise that the leader of the world’s largest economy influences global markets. What’s new is the volatility of his actions. We expected this pre-negotiation phase to be challenging, but it’s a necessary step toward the talks we hope to begin soon.”
What aspects will be negotiated over the next three months?
Eric Lombard: “President Trump wants to renegotiate tariffs, though we aim to keep them as low as possible. There’s also discussion about certain regulations, but many of our standards are non-negotiable. Our priority is to strike a balance that stabilizes global trade while protecting free trade, which benefits all participating economies.”
Europe had promised a response by April 15—where do things stand now?
Eric Lombard: “We must allow time for negotiations. The U.S. has invited us to begin talks on April 22 at a meeting in Washington, where I will be present. Hopefully, we can make progress. If not, Europe will need to take action accordingly.”