PARIS—The French government has cut its growth forecast for 2025 because of the uncertainty over world trade, the economy minister said Wednesday just hours after US President Donald Trump paused a massive hike in tariffs.
The government had forecast annual growth of 0.9 percent when presenting its 2025 budget, but Economy Minister Eric Lombard told TF1 television that it would be trimmed to 0.7 percent.
The Bank of France had already revised its growth forecast for 2025 to 0.7 percent in March, and the French Economic Observatory (OFCE) lowered its forecast to 0.5 percent on Wednesday.
Asked about a possible further downward revision, the minister said that “would depend on the negotiations that will be initiated with the United States and the decisions that are taken on customs duties.”
“If we succeed in lowering tariffs, we could even get better, and if not, we will see,” he added.
Lombard ruled out raising taxes in 2025.
