French Prime Minister François Bayrou has sharply criticized U.S. trade policies under former President Donald Trump, warning that tariffs imposed earlier this month "unleashed a cyclone" on global commerce. Speaking in Paris on Tuesday, Bayrou linked international economic instability to France's deepening domestic challenges, framing the nation's $3.7 trillion debt as an existential threat requiring urgent action.
"Reindustrialization must become an obsession for us," Bayrou told attendees, revealing that France's public debt now equals 113.7% of GDP – approximately $56,000 per resident. With the budget deficit hitting 5.8% of GDP in 2024, he warned the government's "room for manoeuvre is reducing" amid global market volatility.
Opposition leaders and labor groups rejected Bayrou's assessment. Marine Le Pen of the National Rally dismissed the speech as inadequate, while CGT union leader Sophie Binet called it "propaganda" that risks worsening public anxiety. The Prime Minister countered that new economic measures will be unveiled before July 14, prioritizing cost reduction and industrial revitalization.
Analysts suggest Bayrou's rare combination of global trade critique and fiscal alarm reflects mounting pressure on European economies to balance international competition with sustainable debt management. As France prepares reform proposals, its approach could signal broader shifts in Eurozone economic strategy.
