US President Donald Trump has publicly ridiculed his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, claiming that a tariff threat compelled Macron to agree to raise drug prices and beg Trump to keep the matter confidential. Trump made these remarks while addressing Republican lawmakers, where he emphasized the effectiveness of his 'Most Favored Nation' policy and the swift results achieved through tariff threats in negotiations with other countries.
The Alleged Tariff Threat and Macron's Concession
Donald Trump elaborated on his claim that he threatened France with increased tariffs on all French drugs imported into the United States. According to Trump, this threat had an immediate impact, leading French President Macron to capitulate to his demands. Trump asserted that Macron pleaded with him, saying, 'Please don't tell anybody,'. Indicating Macron's desire to keep the agreement out of the public eye. This incident, as described by Trump, exemplifies his trade strategy, which he claims uses economic pressure to extract concessions from other nations.
Claim of US Healthcare Subsidies
The American President justified his demands by stating that the United States has subsidized global healthcare for decades. According to Trump, American consumers were paying 14 times more for prescription drugs than French consumers, a significant disparity he aimed to rectify. Against this backdrop, Trump claimed he instructed the French leader to raise drug prices to alleviate the burden on American consumers. This assertion highlights the rationale behind Trump's trade policy, where he frequently prioritized American interests.
Warning of 25 Percent Tariffs on French Products
Trump further detailed that he issued a clear warning to France: if they didn't comply with American demands, they would face a hefty 25 percent tariff on all French products, including champagne and wine, while this threat served as a powerful economic lever, designed to coerce France into accepting US terms. Trump claimed that this direct tariff threat forced Macron to yield. To American demands, thereby proving the efficacy of his tough negotiating tactics.
Macron's Alleged Plea and Price Hike
According to Trump, the French leader told him, 'Donald, I'll do whatever you want, while i want to raise my prescription drug prices by 200 percent or whatever you want. Whatever you want, Donald, please don't tell the public, I'm begging you. ' This alleged conversation is a central point of Trump's claims, highlighting Macron's supposed vulnerability and desire for secrecy, while trump further claimed that following his demand, France increased drug prices from $10 per pill to $30, while prices in the US decreased. He presented this as a significant victory, attributing it to the success of his 'Most Favored Nation' policy.
Broader Effectiveness of Tariff Threats
Trump also claimed that this strategy wasn't limited to France, stating that 'every country said the same thing. ' He asserted that in negotiations with other nations, foreign leaders agreed to quadruple their drug prices within an average of 3. 2 minutes of a tariff threat. This claim underscores the broad effectiveness of Trump's approach to trade negotiations, where he believes that aggressive threats can yield rapid results. He further stated that his tariff threat was 42 times higher than his initial request, illustrating the intensity of his pressure.
Lack of Immediate Response from France
Following Trump's remarks, neither French President Emmanuel Macron nor the French government immediately issued a response. This silence highlights the diplomatic tension and sensitivity surrounding the incident. Trump's public mockery of Macron and the revelation of his alleged plea introduce a new. Dimension to international relations, where public rhetoric and personal ridicule have become part of diplomatic discourse.
