PARIS (Reuters) – France may try to negotiate some of the tax breaks and caps imposed by the US anti-inflation law, but Europe must act to protect the bloc’s economic interests, French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said this Sunday.

Le Maire will accompany French President Emmanuel Macron on a visit to the United States next week.

Europeans say a massive package of subsidies to protect American producers under the Inflation Reduction Act could deal a death blow to their industries, which are already suffering from high energy prices caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“France may request exemption from certain fees and restrictions imposed by the US government. But the real question we have to ask ourselves is this: what kind of globalization lies ahead of us?” Le Maire told France 3.

“China is prioritizing Chinese manufacturing, the US is prioritizing US manufacturing, it is time for Europe to prioritize European manufacturing,” he added.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon)