The meeting between Biden and Macron, and Macron’s visit to Washington took on a crucial significance in international dynamics.
The French president’s visit was an opportunity to engage in dialogue with his American counterpart on the Ukrainian conflict, but, more importantly, to discuss diriment economic issues to Western balances.
The issues on the table were numerous, as well as the concerns, which drove a European “emissary” to the American president’s presence. The inferences following the official meetings and creating a great stir in the media, especially in Italy, were notable too.
This was an extremely important meeting, and it was clear from its level: a state visit, the highest diplomatic level.
Macron’s U.S. trip was accompanied by the Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, Armed Forces and Foreign Affairs Ministers Sebastian Lecornu and Catherine Colonna, and by representatives of TotalEnergies and Edf; and it was the result of tensions that Europe has been experiencing for several months.
The consequences of the war are weighing on the European economy, especially due to the energy crisis; a situation that has been aggravated more by the policies of the Biden administration, defined within the Inflation Reduction Act.[1].
The clear protectionist feature of the initiative, with its preparation of highly market-distorting measures, is likely to influence economic relations in the North American trade area. These dynamics are not well accepted by European allies, worried about being excluded from the market by the Buy American policy; especially on the strategic sectors, such as Automotive, Green and High-tech.
The risk of a new trade war in the WTO, after the issue of the aviation sector, but, above all, the fear of opening a rift in the Western front, at such a delicate moment, made the parties lean toward rapprochement and constructive dialogue, as revealed by the opening made by Biden to Macron [2].
Despite the positive outcomes and the American openness, a political rift in the European context has not been averted. There has been an obvious contrast over the future moves the European Union should make. On the one hand, France has not skimped on launching a proposal similar to the American one, in order to avoid even greater economic damage.[3]
While on the other hand, Germany did not wait for a diametrically opposed response, also following President Ursula von der Leyen's words on the launch of a new sovereign fund to counter the contingent crisis, described by the German Finance Minister as a real danger to the competitiveness and the stability of the EU[4].
The French visit, however, in addition to the economic aspects, was an opportunity to discuss the war in Ukraine. The conference on Ukraine will be held on November 13, which will not be - as announced by several Italian agencies - a peace conference, but an opportunity for dialogue and coordinated planning on future commitments in the country.
Biden and Macron were immediately in strong agreement on this, reiterating the need to strengthen NATO commitments, not only of Russia, but also for the containment of China[5].
Many issues are therefore currently on the table, essential for shaping in the coming weeks and months, the Western allies' policies for the future.
Translated by Denise Praticò.
[1] https://formiche.net/2022/11/macron-biden-guerra-commerciale/
[2] https://formiche.net/2022/12/macron-meloni-biden-castellaneta/
[3] https://www.politico.eu/article/macron-heads-to-washington-on-mission-to-avert-transatlantic-trade-war/?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=1013dbe95c-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_11_29_05_52&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-1013dbe95c-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D
[4] https://www.ansa.it/europa/notizie/rubriche/altrenews/2022/12/05/berlino-nuovo-fondo-sovrano-ue-colpo-alla-competitivita_6504bbd1-f36e-41d9-85d4-99fc018bacc9.html
[5] https://formiche.net/2022/11/macron-biden-washington-dicembre/
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Tiziano Sini
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Biden USA France war inflation InflationReductionAct Economic crisis europe Ukraine