Macron Criticizes EU-US Trade Deal, Calls EU ‘Not Feared Enough’

French President Emmanuel Macron criticized the recent U.S.-EU trade deal, asserting that the European Union was not "feared enough" during negotiations with the United States, which resulted in a deal perceived as favoring the U.S. Macron emphasized that Europe has yet to see itself as a powerful entity capable of securing better terms, stating, "To be free, you have to be feared." The agreement imposes a 15% tariff on most EU exports to the U.S., while the EU is expected to reduce tariffs on American goods to below 1%, a point of contention among French leaders. Macron, however, expressed optimism that the current deal is not final and pledged to continue pursuing a more balanced agreement to protect European interests. Other European leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also voiced concerns about the deal's negative impact, although Merz acknowledged limited alternatives, and French political figures like Marine Le Pen called the deal a "moral fiasco."