France, April 4 -- As transatlantic trade tensions flare over new US tariffs, French President Emmanuel Macron has urged companies to freeze investments in the United States to protect France's economic interests and rally European unity.

Macron described President Donald Trump's 20 percent tariff hike on European goods as "brutal and unfounded", warning of deep economic repercussions and calling for a united European response.

"Future investments, investments announced in the last weeks, should be suspended for a time," Macron said on Thursday at a gathering of top business leaders, ministers and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou in Paris.

Posting on X, Macron wrote: "Together and with all our sectors, we will be able to protect ourselve...