French Finance Minister Michel Sapin speaks during an interview with Reuters in his office at the Bercy Ministry in Paris, France, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen

PARIS (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration poses a grave risk to international trade and Europe will have to stand up to him to prevent the collapse of global economic institutions, French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said on Tuesday.

“Our American partner appears to want to take unilaterally protectionist decisions which could destabilise the whole world economy,” Sapin said in a speech to an audience of international economists gathered at the French finance ministry.

“Decisions by the new U.S. administration are posing a grave risk to the world trade order,” he said. “Neither France nor Europe ... can watch helplessly as our economic institutions risk being dislocated,” he added.