Macron also made an optimistic comment on the controversy, saying that he and Biden agreed to “resynchronize our approach” to providing government support for critical industries such as semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries and hydrogen energy.
“Everything that is absolutely decisive, because in fact, we share the same vision and the same desire,” said Macron.
French and European officials are concerned that the $369 billion in new subsidies provided for clean technology and renewable energy in the Inflation Reduction Act will divert investment from Europe in favor of the United States.
They argue that the blow to European industry is also coming at a particularly bad time, with European consumers and businesses already struggling with high energy prices as a result of the war in Ukraine and facing the prospect of a recession next year. .
Macron has called on the 27-nation European Union to press ahead with his package of green subsidies under the banner of “Buy European,” a move that a senior Biden administration official indicated he may support.