[Global Times Special Correspondent in the United States Zheng Ke, Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Yi] The "American Innovation and Competition Act", which aims to strengthen US competition with China, was openly "hijacked" by Senate Republicans, which has already been in a deadlock for several months. The bill continues to struggle.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on June 30 issued a major warning to Democrats: Republicans will not approve the bill if they continue to try to advance an economic agenda this summer.

In fact, the bipartisan differences that are difficult to reconcile from the US Congress to the Supreme Court not only hinder the Biden administration from advancing its domestic agenda, but also affect its diplomatic prestige.

  McConnell tweeted on June 30: "Let me be very clear that as long as the Democrats are still looking for a partisan settlement bill, they won't. There's a bipartisan American Innovation and Competition Act." McConnell is targeting a package that Democrats Sen. Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are discussing to advance.

Manchin "turned on his feet" at a critical moment last December, vetoing the "Building Back Better Futures" bill pushed by the Biden administration and passed in the House, but he has since been open to a streamlined bill.

CNN said the current package would be smaller than the bill Manchin vetoed last year, including capping the price of prescription drugs as well as energy policy, taxes on the wealthy and climate provisions.

The Axios website in the United States said that the media has spread the news that the current bill only needs a Democratic vote to be passed.

At the same time, Schumer is also working to resolve differences between Senate and House negotiators on the China competition bill, hoping to finalize a deal by mid-July.

  The U.S. Innovation and Competition Act includes about $50 billion in funding for the U.S. semiconductor industry, and the Biden administration claims that the U.S. can use it to increase its competitiveness against China and help alleviate supply chain problems.

Axios analysis said that McConnell took the China competition bill as a "hostage" because he knew that the bill was a priority for Biden and Schumer.

The White House issued a statement on the same day, condemning McConnell for "hijacking" American jobs and the China Competition Act.

"In order to protect Big Pharma, Senate Republicans have chosen to help China win in its competition with the United States," the statement said. "This move pushes loyalty to special interests to an alarming new level. We will not fight this brutality. backed down from the threat."

  The infighting between the two parties has caused many restrictions and obstacles to Biden's promotion of domestic and foreign agendas. In addition to the economic agenda mentioned above, Biden has also repeatedly suffered setbacks on issues such as promoting climate change and protecting abortion rights.

More recently, Democrats are preparing to introduce a bill in Congress to protect abortion rights, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade.

To prevent Republican obstruction, Biden called on the Senate on June 30 at a press conference on the sidelines of the NATO summit to create an exception for legislation protecting abortion rights that would allow it to bypass the "lengthy debate" obstruction process (that is, without reaching the 60-vote minimum threshold). ), bringing abortion rights into federal law.

In this regard, McConnell slammed Biden, saying: "Attack on the core American institution like the Supreme Court on the world stage undermines the dignity of the president."

  On the same day, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled by a vote of 6 in favor and 3 against, ruling that the Biden administration’s Clean Air Act did not grant the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the power to limit greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants, making the original hope The Biden administration, which used the EPA to achieve emission reduction targets, suffered another heavy blow.

Schumer commented bitterly: "First gun safety, then abortion, and now the environment, this MAGA ('Make America Great Again' acronym), retrogressive, extremist Supreme Court keeps America from going backwards for hundreds of years. Go back decades."

  The American Political News Network reported that although Biden wanted to prove that "the United States is back" when he came to power, and hoped that the United States could not only "rebuild a better future" at home, but also help other countries to do so globally, there have been various trends in the United States recently. But it has damaged its global reputation and damaged Biden's diplomatic agenda.

"It undermines confidence in our system, which is very important at a time when the United States should help lead a military coalition against the Russians," said Connolly, a Democrat who attended the NATO summit.

  It is worth mentioning that partisanship is also hindering Biden's foreign trade negotiations.

The Biden administration has reportedly eschewed traditional free trade agreements in search of an unconventional approach to global economic engagement that does not require congressional approval.

The "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" previously promoted by the United States does not contain market access or preferential tariff provisions. It is considered to be "only sticks, no carrots", unattractive and highly likely to be ordered without congressional approval. One-term president abolished.

According to a previous report by the Political News Network, lawmakers from both parties have complained about being excluded from the trade agenda by the White House, and if Republicans control Congress this fall, scrutiny is bound to intensify.