Energies: Joe Biden and Ursula Von der Leyen want to avoid harmful EU-US competition
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House on March 10.
AP - Andrew Harnik
Text by: RFI Follow
4 mins
Joe Biden received, this Friday, March 10, at the White House the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen.
Together, they announced their desire to negotiate an agreement between the United States and the European Union on essential raw materials.
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When the American president received the President of the European Commission by the fire in the Oval Office, there was no doubt that the main subject would be the “Inflation Reduction Act”.
This is a huge energy transition
aid plan
launched by Joe Biden, unashamedly supporting the "Made in America" concept, in particular
through
tax incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles, and whose European manufacturers fear the effects.
“
It is obvious that through the Inflation Reduction Act, the United States is seeking to recover a little bit of its independence in the field of strategic raw materials in the electricity sector.
In their case, it is rather lithium
, analyzes Philippe Chalmin, an economist specializing in raw materials.
These are direct subsidies, a certain form of protectionism.
We find there a whole arsenal of measures that, for the moment, Europe is not able to counter and above all, it is not able in the current state to do the equivalent.
»
►Also read: The competitiveness of the EU, an issue in the face of state aid from China and the United States
To temper fears at least a little, the two leaders promised, in a joint press release at the end of their meeting, to "
immediately begin to negotiate for a targeted agreement on strategic metals
" of the energy transition.
“
The United States has the means to act
”
In addition, Joe Biden, who does not intend to change his program much, nevertheless promised the European leader to "
work to avoid zero-sum competition, so that our public aid policies support the development of clean energy and jobs without becoming boons for private interests
,” according to their joint statement.
“
In these areas, and particularly in terms of industrial policy, the European Union does not exist!
This agreement relates to access to mineral raw materials.
The United States has the means to act and to act quickly, whereas Europe is admirably slow and continues to believe in the virtues of free trade
”, continues Philippe Chalmin.
"
A new era
"
Before the bilateral meeting began, Joe Biden recalled having promised his interlocutor a "
new era
" in the transatlantic relationship, hard-hit by his predecessor Donald Trump, and praised their unity in the face of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russia.
“
I want to thank you for your leading role
” in reaching an agreement with the United Kingdom on the delicate question of the Northern Irish border after Brexit, said the 80-year-old Democrat, who follows this subject. closely.
The United States and the European Union "
are good friends
", said Ursula von der Leyen, claiming to be "
very grateful
" for the help provided by the Americans to reduce European dependence on Russian gas.
Ukraine was also on the menu of discussions, the day after a massive salvo of Russian missiles against the country.
"
We are together in unwavering support for Ukraine, for as long as it takes
," reads the joint statement.
Ursula von der Leyen indicated that it had mainly been a question of the sanctions against Russia, their "
implementation
" and the means of preventing them from being circumvented.
China, largely absent from official statements
Largely absent from official statements on Friday: China.
At a time when the United States openly accuses Beijing of considering military aid to Russia, Washington would like to convince the European Union to adopt a firmer position vis-à-vis Beijing.
The joint statement from Joe Biden and Ursula von der Leyen contains at most a coded allusion to China.
The two leaders share their "
shared concerns about the challenge represented, among other things, by the policies of economic pressure, the instrumentalization of economic dependencies and non-competitive economic policies
".
So many practices that Beijing is regularly accused of implementing.
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UNITED STATES
European Union
Energies
Joe Biden
Ursula von der Leyen