Joe Biden in Wilmington, January 15, 2021. -

JIM WATSON / AFP

  • A new chapter opens in the United States, with the inauguration of Joe Biden, who will become the 46th President of the United States this Wednesday.

  • Europe "once again has a friend in the White House," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

  • “There have always been difficult trade negotiations between the United States and Europe.

    We must expect that the points of contention will always be the same: agriculture and the aeronautics industry, ”warns Marie-Christine Bonzom, political scientist and specialist in the United States.

He is not yet president but he is already invited to the European table.

This Tuesday, Joe Biden was officially invited by the President of the Council Charles Michel, in order to "build together a new founding pact" for transatlantic relations.

For her part, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the arrival of a "friend" in the White House.

A few hours before his inauguration, the arrival of Joe Biden to power in the United States arouses real enthusiasm in Europe and in France, after four deleterious Trump years for European-American relations.

But can the honeymoon last?

Will France and Europe emerge as winners from this new political situation?

“I think there will be euphoria at the very beginning, because the European chancelleries have clearly expressed their joy at the election of Joe Biden, in an unprecedented way.

But this euphoria will not last, everyone will refocus on their interests, ”predicts Marie-Christine Bonzom, political scientist and specialist in the United States.

“Joe Biden is first and foremost President of the United States and will be keen to defend American interests and their geostrategic priorities, which today are Asia and China.

"

Signals to green

Since the validation of his election, Joe Biden has sent signals to show the world that his policies will be calmer, more consensual than that of his predecessor.

“Donald Trump was very unilateralist, very 'America first'.

Biden will revive the United States in multilateralism, a way of saying "let's go together", more in the line of Barack Obama, of which he was vice-president, "analyzes Claire Joachim, lecturer at the university from Poitiers.

Through the voice of his future ministers and his administration, he has already sent positive signals on the digital or climate tax.

In France, wine producers, targeted by new taxes since January 12, are hoping for a step backwards.

Protectionist measures which "will probably be lifted by the Biden administration", according to Marie-Christine Bonzom.

A request supported by the European Union.

The Gafams, protected by Biden?

In Europe, it is eagerly awaited on the establishment of an international tax on Gafam (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft), supported in part by France.

Janet Yellen, the future Secretary of the Treasury, appointed by Joe Biden, said she was in favor of such a measure, which "would allow us to collect a fair share of companies, while maintaining the competitiveness of our companies and reducing incentives (... ) offshore activities that we certainly do not want to reward ”.

A political will which could however be stopped short.

“We have to be careful, Joe Biden may not have as much leeway as one might think internally,” explains Claire Joachim.

“As much as Democrats can smooth things over, Republicans are fundamentally against taxes.

Despite its majority, Congress and the Senate could prevent it in its decision-making, by obstructing it.

“In addition, the Gafams have largely contributed to financing his campaign, recalls Marie Christine Bonzom.

“These wealthy donors expect a return on their investment.

Joe Biden is going to be indebted to them and will protect their interests.

"

Angry subjects (always)

During his campaign, Biden promised the whole world "a return to normalcy," but what does that term really mean?

Of course, the Trump years have radically transformed the relations of the United States with the world, but we must remember that they have always been mixed, recalls Marie-Christine Bonzom.

“There have always been difficult trade negotiations between the United States and Europe.

We must expect that the points of contention will always be the same: agriculture and the aviation industry ”.

She invites Europeans to reflect on the subject: “What America do we want?

Whether she is an interventionist in Iraq, under the presidency of George W. Bush or an isolationist with Donald Trump, "you are never very satisfied".

“Have we used the last four years to forge our common foreign policy?

These are fundamental questions that must be answered today.

The meeting between the Europeans and Joe Biden could ultimately be a little less cheerful than expected.

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