Europe is prepared to fight back against economic protectionism by the Donald Trump administration with policies akin to those used to combat Chinese anti-competitive practices, according to France’s industry minister.

Christophe Sirugue said Europe cannot be simply a “spectator” if Mr Trump follows through on his campaign promises, which include plans to tear up global trade deals and impose punitive tariffs and higher barriers to trade.

“If he adopts the protectionism that he promised during the campaign, Europe would need to react to that . . . [We would need to] invent tools to react,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times.

Mr Sirugue said the continent could employ similar fiscal and legislative tools as those used to fight against Chinese practices that are deemed anti-competitive, for example those used to combat dumping in the steel industry.

“How did we react to the Chinese? We did not close our borders. We did not say that protectionism was the response of Europe. We invented a tool that allows us to confront unfair practices abroad,” he said.

“There are fiscal tools, there are regulatory tools, there is a whole pallet of reforms that could be put in place [against the US].”

Mr Trump has focused his protectionist rhetoric on Asia and Mexico, threatening to impose a 45 per cent tariffs on goods from China and a similar 35 per cent levy on products imported from Mexico.

But there are concerns that this could have a ripple effect on Europe, or that his sights could be turned on Europe next.

“I do not know what he intends to do,” said Mr Sirugue. “Between his declarations as president-elect that are different from those during the campaign, it is hard to understand his plan exactly.”

Mr Sirugue became industry minister in September, replacing Emmanuel Macron, who is making a bid for president next year. Mr Sirugue is an ally of President François Hollande, who said this month that he will not pursue a second term.

Speaking from his office in Paris, Mr Sirugue also criticised the “extreme dogmatism” of the economic proposals of centre-right candidate François Fillon, who is favourite to win the presidential election in June.

Mr Fillion has called for a wave of privatisation in French industry, such as selling shares owned by the French state in car company Renault, as well as promising to get rid of 500,000 civil servants.

Mr Sirugue said the state needed to keep control of important companies and economic sectors in the national interest. “Selling off the family jewels is not a good industrial policy,” he said.

He said he advocated an industrial policy that was “anything but dogmatic”, saying the state needed to be “pragmatic” about defending the national interest. “Mr Fillon is not president yet, and the more and more he presents similar policies the less likely he is to become president,” he said.

Mr Sirugue also said the state-backed recapitalisation of nuclear groups EDF and Areva planned for early next year would give a “solid backbone” to the nuclear industry.

He added he was keeping a watchful eye over the sale of shipbuilder STX France and would veto any bids against the national interest. “We will not choose [who will win the bid for the company] but we have a right to play a role in the process.”