It is in this tense context that Ursula von der Leyen arrives in Washington. With one idea in mind: to find common ground with the United States to mitigate the negative effects of the IRA. “It is certain that American law will not changeexplains Eric Maurice, head of the Brussels office of the Schuman Foundation, but Ursula von der Leyen wants to convince Joe Biden to treat European companies the same as Canadian or Mexican companies Concretely, this might mean that “made in EU” electric cars might become eligible for US tax credits like any electric vehicle made in North America.
“The President of the Commission will also remind the Biden Administration that it has no interest in weakening European industry. Acceptance of the cost of war also depends on the economic situation in Europe“, underlines the analyst of the Schuman Foundation. “In the same way Ursula von der Leyen might also remind the United States that the liquefied natural gas that we buy from them at a very high price to supplement Russian gas is also an unfavorable factor for the European economy.“There is no guarantee that the American president will be sensitive to these arguments, but if he were to make a move, some fear that the United States will demand compensation. For example, by asking that the European Union adopt a firmer position. once morest China, with trade restrictions on the export of electronic components, as the Netherlands has just announced already this week.
