On the first day of his state visit to the US, French President Emmanuel Macron made no secret of his opinion on US climate subsidies on Wednesday. The Frenchman said that with the Inflation Reduction Act, Americans are adopting a ‘super aggressive’ attitude towards European companies.
The EU has been trying for months to do something about the US government’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). For example, it gives Americans a subsidy to buy an electric car with an American-made battery. There are fears that this puts European industry at a disadvantage and could even attract businesses from across the Atlantic.
Problems, problems
The Wednesday afternoon luncheon attended by members of Congress and business associates took place behind closed doors, but Macron’s words were overheard by a reporter from the AFP news agency. The president apologized to his interlocutors for his direct tone, but also said: “The result of the IRA is that you can solve your problems, but you make my problems worse.”
In an official speech later in the day, Macron was more diplomatic, lauding the climate-friendly nature of the Inflation Reduction Act, but again the French president said: “These are decisions that will divide the West.”
Source: BNR
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