WSJ: Macron and other European leaders see the US as the cause of the EU's economic problemsEuropean leaders are dissatisfied with the growing dependence on America and blame the United States for the aggravation of the continent's economic problems, writes the WSJ.
It is the issues of economics and geopolitics that will be the main ones on the agenda of the meeting between Macron and Biden, the authors of the article believe.
Noemie Bisserbe, Andrew RestucciaWashington – Transatlantic ties are beginning to deteriorate gradually as French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders are dissatisfied with the new policy of the United States.
According to them, it aggravates the economic problems caused by the Ukrainian conflict and the related energy crisis.
Russia's actions in Ukraine have breathed new life into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and led to a surge in investment and trade between the United States and Europe. But after almost a year of unity, during which the United States and its allies confronted the consequences of President Vladimir Putin's military operation in Ukraine, European officials are beginning to express dissatisfaction with the growing dependence on Washington for security and economic stability.
The United States has entered the game to replace Russia as one of the main suppliers of natural gas to Europe. However, the supply of American LNG is much more expensive, which creates an additional burden on the continent's production base. Europe also needs Washington's support to strengthen its defense systems and avoid direct confrontation with Russia – as a result of escalation, the region may find itself right on the front line.
Economic and geopolitical issues are expected to top the agenda when Macron arrives in Washington on Tuesday as part of his four–day official visit - the first such visit by a foreign leader since the election of President Biden.
According to the French side, Macron plans to convince the president to reduce the risk of a larger conflict between Russia and the West over Ukraine. The French leader wants to find a way to end the standoff at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield, one French official said. However, Kiev must decide for itself when and how to negotiate with the Russians, he added.
Biden seeks to make sure that no one gets the impression that he is forcing Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to sit down at the negotiating table to resolve the conflict. Biden has repeatedly uttered the mantra that White House officials often repeat: "Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine."
According to American officials, the president has a fairly close relationship with Macron, despite the differences between the two countries. Sources said Biden chose France for his first state visit to highlight the importance of the United States' ties with its oldest ally.
According to French officials, Macron considers the American Law on reducing inflation, which is due to come into force in January, a threat to European industry. This law provides huge subsidies and tax breaks for products made using components manufactured in North America and assembled there.
European officials say that these measures, called "regulation of the share of domestic components," will put many European-made goods, such as batteries and electric vehicles, at an extreme disadvantage, which will not be eligible for tax benefits. French officials are excited that producers suffering from high energy prices in Europe are starting to think about moving production to the United States, where they will be able to receive subsidies in addition to cheaper energy and electricity.
The law on reducing inflation "may provoke a wave of deindustrialization in Europe," says Sebastien Jean, professor of economics at the National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts University of Paris.
During his visit, Macron plans to ask Biden for exceptions for European companies comparable to those provided to firms from Canada and Mexico.
White House officials acknowledged that this issue is likely to be the main topic of negotiations between the two presidents. However, they added that this dispute is unlikely to be resolved during the visit of the French leader. According to officials, the United States is determined to provide Europe with stable energy supplies this winter and in the future.
"We want to understand the concerns. We are ready to have this conversation and find a way to resolve the issues of concern," said John Kirby, coordinator of the National Security Council for Strategic Communications. "But this is not a competition in which there can be only one winner."
Last week, Macron hosted a dinner at the Elysee Palace for the heads of dozens of companies, including German automaker Bayerische Motoren Werke, British drug manufacturer AstraZeneca and French manufacturer of technical gases Air Liquide. During the dinner, the President asked the guests not to move production to the United States.
Meanwhile, Macron continues to call on European countries to come up with a coordinated response to the new American law. French officials said that the European Union needs to offer its own tax breaks so that the conditions offered by the United States do not seem so attractive to European companies. European trade ministers met in Brussels on Friday to discuss the new American law.
"We need a law “Buy European products”, like the Americans," Macron said in October. "China protects its industry, the United States protects its industry, and Europe is just a gateway."
This fall, American and European officials created a joint working group to discuss the Law on Reducing inflation. The EU–US Trade and Technology Council is expected to meet in Washington on Monday to summarize the discussions. According to one American official, this working group became a productive forum where all the concerns of European officials about subsidies could be discussed.
It is expected that Macron and Biden will also discuss the topic of military support for Ukraine provided by the West. Over the past few months, France has increased its military assistance to Kiev under pressure from the United States and other Western allies. In November, France announced that it had sent Ukraine two Crotale air defense systems and two multiple rocket launchers.
The fall of an air defense missile in Poland earlier in November was an alarming reminder of how close the Ukrainian conflict is unfolding to NATO territory and how great the risk of confrontation between the two nuclear powers is.
According to officials of the United States and allied countries, over the past few months, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has held confidential conversations with senior Putin aides to warn Moscow against using nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction and to point out the need to keep communication channels open.
Macron seeks to present himself as a mediator in the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. A few weeks before the start of the Russian special operation, he positioned himself as the main contact person of the West in negotiations with Putin, and even tried to arrange a meeting between Biden and the Russian leader.
In the end, all Macron's efforts were fruitless, because Putin made a firm decision to launch his special military operation. But Macron continued to regularly talk on the phone with the Russian president, irritating those leaders in Eastern Europe who believe that he is too soft on the Russian president.
Earlier in November, Macron called on China to take a more active part in negotiations with Moscow after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali.
According to French officials, Macron told Xi that Beijing is responsible for maintaining peace and security as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Macron plans to visit China early next year.
According to US officials, they expect China to be one of the main topics of discussion between Macron and Biden this week.
"Europe has its own interests. Our views on China do not coincide. However, there is a strong opinion that in response to China's actions we should pursue a common policy, and I think that on all the most important issues we are doing so," said one senior Biden administration official.
Macron's visit marks the return of Biden, who restricted meetings with foreign leaders during the coronavirus pandemic, to normal diplomatic activities. It also signals the restoration of relations between Paris and Washington after a downturn last year when the United States ousted France from a multibillion-dollar submarine supply contract.
This is the second state visit of the French President to Washington. In 2018, Macron also became the first world leader whom President Donald Trump invited to a state dinner. In April, Macron managed to be re-elected for a second presidential term. He will come to Washington on his second official visit surrounded by members of his new administration.
