International sharp comment丨From the dinner at the Elysee to the state banquet at the White House, Europe sees through the United States
On 2nd local time, French President Macron concluded his three-day visit to the United States. Macron, who is good at mediation, went to the United States this time, mainly to seek exemption from the US “Inflation Reduction Act” for European companies. But in the end nothing came of it and US-European relations had to be further torn by regret.
Of course, in order to welcome France, the “oldest” ally, the United States made great efforts to save face: entertain Macron and his wife with the “Blair Palace”, a luxury hotel bigger than the White House; entertain them with upscale state banquets including lobster and caviar; Arranged a rich itinerary involving politics, economics, science and technology, culture and other fields… However, no matter how big the banquet, no matter how warm the handshake, it can’t hide the seemingly incompatible relationship between the two parts.
Macron’s visit to the United States this time is nominally a state visit, but in reality it is to ask for justice. In August this year, US President Biden signed the “Inflation Reduction Act”, introducing a large number of incentives including high subsidies to promote the production and application of electric vehicles and other green technologies in the United States. This aroused great discontent among European countries. They believe that this bill contains protectionist trade policies, violates WTO rules, will exacerbate the contraction of European industrial production and force European companies to move their production lines to the United States.
To defend Europe’s interests, Macron specially hosted a banquet at the Elysee Palace in the presidential palace to entertain many European businessmen a few days before his visit, trying to convince them to keep their production lines in Europe. French and European media are also hoping Macron’s trip will convince the United States to exempt European companies. On the first day of his arrival in the United States, Macron opened fire, criticizing the “Inflation Reduction Act” as a “super offensive” for European companies: “Many jobs in France and Europe are at risk of destruction”. The problem. Macron also said France wants to be “respected as a good friend” by the United States and advocated for greater economic coordination on both sides of the Atlantic.
Faced with Macron’s appeal, Biden said the United States does not need to apologize to Europe, but can make “fine adjustments”, but did not specify specific measures. Some German media have pointed out that when it comes to matters involving economic interests, the US’s first choice can only be itself, and Europeans must have a clear understanding of this.
In this regard, Europe has long felt deeply. Since the eruption of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Europe has faced a huge energy crisis due to the fact that the United States has launched multiple rounds of sanctions against Russia. The United States, known as an ally, took the opportunity to sit on the ground and raise prices and take advantage of the fire. Currently, the EU imports LNG from the US at four times the domestic price. At the same time, the European Central Bank is also struggling under pressure from the Federal Reserve to sharply raise interest rates. Amid multiple crises, Europe is facing serious threats to industry, employment, and the flow of capital to the United States.
This time, the Biden administration spent $500,000 to dedicate the first state banquet since he took office to Macron, which is not only an appeasement but also a kind of solicitation. The US needs Europe to coordinate and cooperate on the Russia-Ukraine issue and to be consistent with the US in dealing with “competition” with China. This is tantamount to “sucking the blood” out of Europe, while also making it serve the hegemony of the United States.
For Macron and European leaders, the big state banquet at the White House was even more bitter than the dinner at the Elysée to hold many companies a few days ago. Shining silverware and dazzling smiles cannot hide the deep rift between the “transatlantic partners” and the fact that the United States has never considered Europe as an ally, but as a recipient of disasters and fires, and to maintain the hegemony American. a victim who pays for US interests.
Before Macron’s visit to the United States, American “Policy” predicted that if the United States fails to reach a compromise with the French side on the trade subsidies dispute between the United States and Europe, a transatlantic trade war would be inevitable. From the dinner at the Elysée to the grand state banquet at the White House, Europe must have seen more clearly the intentions of the United States, and the pace of the pursuit of strategic independence cannot stop for a moment.
(Reviewer for International Sharp Review)
