Mayor and Habeck to visit Washington on Feb. 6 amid transatlantic trade tensions – POLITICO

PARIS — French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and his German counterpart Robert Habeck will be in Washington on February 6-7 to address transatlantic trade issues sparked by the US Inflation Reduction Act, three officials told POLITICO. people aware of the trip.

In December last year, French and German officials announced they would make a joint trip to discuss the consequences of the US Inflation Reduction Act without specifying a date.

The trip comes amid a major disagreement between Washington and Brussels over the US Cut Inflation Act – a $369bn green subsidy program that the EU says will cause industry to the stranger. Brussels is ready to respond with its own plan, which includes new industry benchmarks, relaxation of subsidy rules during crises and reallocation of EU funds.

French officials have often stressed that the US plan is unlikely to be changed as the German government has maintained a more optimistic stance.

A spokesman for France’s economy ministry declined to confirm the exact date of the trip, but confirmed it should take place in early February.