Trump says he’s open to reversing US pull out from climate change agreement
French President Macron says talks with Trump are indispensable even with ‘regrettable’ differences
US President Donald Trump hinted he was open to reverse his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord on Thursday, but did not say what he would need in return to persuade him to do so.
Trump, who has made few friends in Europe with his rejection of the 2015 Paris agreement and his “America First” trade stance, met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris as both leaders sought common ground to reset an awkward relationship.
“Something could happen with respect to the Paris accords, let’s see what happens,” Trump told a news conference. “If it happens, that will be wonderful, and if it doesn’t, that’ll be OK too.”
Trump has said the Paris accord is soft on leading polluters like China and India, putting US industry at risk.
“I respect the wish to preserve jobs, I think that’s compatible with the Paris accord,” Macron said at the joint conference.
“There is no sudden and unexpected change today, otherwise we would have announced it, but there is the shared intention to continue discussing these issues,” the French president added.