Raffarin: Trump economic 'war' talk wrong, respect needed

World
Europe

Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former French prime minister, rebuked US President Donald Trump on Monday as he hit out at protectionist measures and called for dialogue, not provocation.

The charismatic Raffarin, speaking at the Boao Forum for Asia, told CGTN Digital not only that protectionism creates no winners but also that Trump was wrong to use the word “war” in relation to trade.

“I don’t like the word ‘war’. The word ‘war’ is very bad, and I don’t agree with Mr Trump when he’s talking about economic ‘war’. Maybe he has not known war on the field of his country. But we have war, and we know what war means.

“So, we don’t speak about war. We speak about competition, we speak about discussion, some difficulties, not war.”

Raffarin stressed that with protectionism, no country would win. “We need to develop trade. We can’t have a winner with protectionism. We need to develop growth everywhere.”

The solution to trade tensions should be multilateral, the Boao regular said. “You can’t find a solution between only both countries. We need to have a discussion. Of course with the G20, with the United Nations, with international institutions.

“The world is very very dangerous. We need peace, we need dialogue, we need discussion. And we need respect. Not provocation, not only competition, in what we say in France, ‘représailles’ (reprisal).”

Former French prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin speaks to CGTN's John Goodrich at the Boao Forum for Asia, Hainan, April 9, 2018. /CGTN Photo

Cooperation is also the reason Raffarin is so committed to the Boao Forum. “Nowadays, the world is so dangerous. We need to have a space for international cooperation. That’s the reason Boao is developing — it is a place where we are talking about international cooperation.”

The 69-year-old believes the Belt and Road Initiative, which he has been a vocal supporter of, has a role to play in promoting global growth.

Parts of Western Europe are yet to fully grasp the BRI, however, and Raffarin identified an element of fear he has witnessed before.

“I remember in the past when American products went to Europe in a large size, Coca-Cola, we were afraid! And we were afraid 10 years after when Japan, with electronic products, came to Europe. So it’s normal. We are always afraid about the ‘powerful’.

“I think what is important with this project is to be around the table. It’s difficult, this big project. It’s difficult for China, it’s difficult for Central Asia, it’s difficult for everybody. It’s not easy. But it’s very important.”

Each country must be practical and determine projects which are suitable for cooperation, as France is doing, Raffarin said.

“If you want to be a winner, we have to be around the table, not in the corner of the room.

“If you are in the corner, you are alone. When you are around the table you can participate to build the project.”

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