Biden to von der Leyen: "Revitalizing US-EU partnership" and suspension of duties

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05 March 2021 A phone call between Joe Biden, president of the United States, with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in which the US leader underlined "his support for the European Union and his commitment to repair and revitalize the US-EU partnership ".

The White House then confirmed in a statement that the two leaders have "agreed to suspend for four months the tariffs related to disputes with the WTO in the aeronautical sector and to work to resolve these long-standing disputes".

The two exponents also "agreed to coordinate on issues of common interest, including China, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Western Balkans".

Four-month respite from reciprocal duties to find solutions on the age-old question (17 years) of aid to Airbus and Boeing authorized by the WTO (WTO), in this way a fruitful and relaxed conversation between the United States and Europe has opened.

This was announced not only by Washington but also by von der Leyen on Twitter and with a press release, in which he underlines the "new beginning" that this agreement marks for transatlantic relations. 

During the phone call, von der Leyen stressed: "I am delighted to have spoken with President Biden this afternoon, the first of many exchanges and the

. As a symbol of this new beginning, President Biden and I we have decided to suspend all our duties imposed in the context of the Airbus-Boeing disputes, on aeronautical and non-aeronautical products, for an initial period of four months ".

"Both - continued the President of the Commission - we are committed to concentrating on resolving our disputes on aircraft, based on the work of our trade representatives. This is excellent news for companies and industries on the one hand. and across the Atlantic, which is a very positive sign for our economic cooperation in the years to come, "concluded von der Leyen. 

In addition, during the interview there was also talk of the

and the production of vaccines, the fight against climate change, a transatlantic technological alliance and of course foreign policy, as reported by the president of the Commission.

Finally, von der Leyen invited the White House tenant to

be held within the G20 on 21 May.

"The EU and the US are both major vaccine producers and we have a strong interest in working together for the smooth functioning of global supply chains," he explained.

"To better prepare the world for future pandemics and improve health security around the world, I invited President Biden to the Global Health Summit in Rome on May 21," said von der Leyen.