French President Emmanuel Macron urged European companies on Thursday to halt planned investments in the United States following US President Donald Trump's announcement of extensive global tariffs on American imports.

“Investments to come or investments announced in recent weeks should be suspended until things are clarified with the United States,” President Macron said during a meeting with the country’s industry representatives.

These comments come weeks after French shipping company CMA CGM revealed plans to invest $20 billion in the US to develop shipping logistics and terminals, a plan that was praised by President Trump at the time and referenced again in his Wednesday speech announcing the tariffs.

In addition, French electrical equipment provider Schneider Electric announced late last month that it would invest $700 million in the US to enhance energy infrastructure supporting AI growth, Reuters news agency reports.

Neither company immediately responded to requests for comment on Macron's proposal.

Macron stated that no response to Trump's tariffs had been ruled out, suggesting the use of the EU's anti-coercion mechanism to protect the bloc's trade, as well as potential measures targeting US digital services and financial systems.

In addition, Macron further underscored that the response to the reciprocal tariffs would be “more powerful” than Europe's previous retaliation to US steel and aluminium tariffs, the Reuters report goes on to add.

He described the tariffs as “brutal and unfounded,” labelling them a shock to international trade, and asserted that Europe must respond “industry by industry.”

Meanwhile, Finance and Economy Minister Eric Lombard told the BFMTV channel, “We are appealing to patriotism.” As negotiations with the US on the tariffs get underway, “it is clear that if a large French company agrees to open a factory in the United States, it would give the Americans a point” in their favour, he went on to add.