Despite a sumptuous dinner on Thursday at the White House, on the second day of his state visit, the French president failed to tear off from his counterpart great advances in the fight against the American inflation, judged protectionist by Paris.
by Claire Gatinois (Washington, Special Envoy) and Philippe Ricard (Washington, Special Envoy)
Two hundred lobsters from Maine and some 350 tuxedo guests and long dresses, including astronaut Sophie Adenot, director Claude Lelouch, the billionaire of the luxury sector Bernard Arnault, the fashion pope of Anna Wintour or the actress Jennifer Garner, in a heavily decorated white house for the Christmas holidays. Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Washington ended on Thursday, December 1, in apotheosis with a sumptuous dinner. A decorum that looked like a “happy end” made of accommodation and accomplices smiles between two rosé champagne sections exchanged by the spouses Biden and Macron in gala outfits.
After forty-eight American hours led in a theatrical atmosphere, punctuated by one of these blood blows of which Emmanuel Macron has become customary, the Washington episode did not know any real outcome. Nor large advances.
At the heart of the meeting between the French Head of State and his American counterpart was the thorny subject of inflation Reduction Act (IRA), this vast plan of fiscal subsidies and bonuses granted to American industrialists to accelerate the energetic transition. A “super aggressive” plan, accused Emmanuel Macron, the day before presidential feasts, judging the initiative of $ 370 billion (351 billion euros) capable of leading to cascade relocations on the old continent for the benefit of UNITED STATES. “The choices that are made are choices that will fragment the West,” launched the head of state, addressing the French nationals gathered at the embassy. A verbal flight that has not shaken the American part.
“The United States does not apologize, I do not apologize”
After the interview of just under two hours which was held Thursday in the oval office between the two presidents, Joe Biden managed to appease the French spirits, without modifying his plan, intended, basically, to fight against Chinese competition. “The United States does not apologize, I do not apologize,” he assumed, while recognizing “a problem”. “We had a very good discussion on IRA,” said Emmanuel Macron.
The United States did not access the requests sketched by France. No exemption from the profits of certain European industries is to date envisaged, as the Elysée imagined before the trip. The United States simply promises to study the subject to achieve a solution that suits its European allies.
A sufficient “awareness”, in the eyes of the French, to scream victory. And ensure that the United States “resynchronizes” its agenda with that of Europeans. “We did not come here simply to ask for” love proofs “. Here we agree on a strategy and to clarify what was necessary to clarify,” said Emmanuel Macron.
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