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Macron has made clear that he and other European leaders are concerned about incentives in the new law, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, that favor American-made climate technology, including electric vehicles. On the nine-month-old war in Ukraine, Biden and Macron face headwinds as they try to maintain unity in the U.S. and Europe to keep economic and military aid flowing to Kyiv as it tries to repel Russian forces.
In Washington, Republicans are set to take control of the House, where GOP leader Kevin McCarthy has said his party's lawmakers will not write a “blank check” for Ukraine. Across the Atlantic, Macron’s efforts to keep Europe united will be tested by the mounting costs of supporting Ukraine in the war and as Europe battles rising energy prices that threaten to derail the post-pandemic economic recovery.
He also said major industrial nations need to do more to address climate change and promote biodiversity. Macron also raised eyebrows earlier this month in a speech at a summit in Bangkok when he referred to the U.S. and China as"two big elephants" that are the cusp of creating"a big problem for the rest of jungle." His visit to Washington also comes as both the U.S. and France are keeping an eye onlast weekend in several mainland cities and Hong Kong over Beijing's"zero COVID" strategy.