US President Joe Biden receives French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House today. After an official welcoming ceremony and bilateral talks, a joint press conference between the two presidents is planned.
Macron addressed one of the issues at a luncheon with US lawmakers yesterday, sharply criticizing subsidies for US products in the fight against climate change. The subsidies are “super aggressive” towards French companies, the French president said. The US could perhaps solve their problems with it, “but you will increase my problem”.
“Ask only to be respected as a good friend”
Without coordination between the US and the EU, “many jobs are at risk of being destroyed,” Macron said. “I only ask to be respected as a good friend.” The dispute revolves around US President Joe Biden’s multi-billion dollar climate protection and social package passed in August. The package provides $370 billion (around €357 billion) for climate protection and energy security – the largest investment in the fight against global warming in US history.
Among other things, subsidies for electric cars, batteries and renewable energy projects “Made in the USA” are planned. The subsidies have met with considerable criticism in the EU. It is feared that European companies will be disadvantaged. The dispute is likely to become a central topic of talks between Macron and Biden.