French President Emmanuel Macron has urged French and EU companies to delay investments in the United States, at least for the time being, in response to the US-imposed tariffs.
Macron made the call during a meeting with representatives of industries affected by the US tariffs, saying, “It is important that the investments announced in recent weeks are put on hold for a while until we have clarified the situation with the United States.”
The French president also emphasized the need for collective solidarity, asking, “What message would we be sending if important European players were to invest in America at a time when we are being hit hard?”
Meanwhile, global stock markets have fallen for the second day in a row, with the exception of the Moscow Exchange. The Nikkei index plummeted by 3.6% in early trading and the DAX continued its downward trend. In contrast, the IMOEX index on the Moscow Exchange initially rose by 1.4% before giving up its gains and is now nearly unchanged from the previous day. The Russian financial sector’s relative immunity to the global market crisis is evident, as the sanctions imposed on it have created a protective shield against the international financial market turmoil.