BRUSSELS: US President Joe Biden will seek the EU’s backing on Tuesday to face the rise of China, but Brussels wants a swift end to lingering trade rows and a clean break from Donald Trump.
After the European enthusiasm that followed Biden’s election, the president of the European Council Charles Michel, representing the 27 EU leaders, and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will sound out Biden for more detail on his “America is back” pledge.
Biden’s two-hour stopover at EU headquarters, tucked between a NATO summit and his sitdown with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, “is not going to settle everything but diplomacy is back,” a senior EU official said on Monday.
After the crisis in the transatlantic relationship under Trump, who considered the EU a bitter economic rival, Biden wants to “defuse the disputes ... in order to focus on his priority, China,” said Eric Maurice of the Schuman Foundation.
A senior US official traveling with Biden told reporters: “This speaks to President Biden’s fundamental strategy of managing competition with China by coordinating closely with and developing common approaches with like-minded democratic partners and allies.”
The Europeans will be trying to clear the slate of trade disputes in order to enter a more friendly phase and jointly tackle other issues, which also include curbing big tech and handling Russia.
The European official said both sides had been “sweating” to find common ground on trade ahead of the meeting and give a clear sign that Trump-era battles will soon be behind them.
A row over Airbus and Boeing goes back 17 years, with each side accusing the other of illegally subsidising their domestic champions. A deal is hoped for next month.
The more difficult bone of contention is a tariff of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum that Trump slapped on Europe and other close partners in 2018.
Brussels hit back with counter-tariffs on 2.8 billion euros worth of iconic US products, including bourbon whiskey, jeans, and Harley-Davidson motorbikes.
The final statement will attempt to offer a clear timeline for resolving the dispute, but US diplomats have been reluctant to write an actual end date on paper.
Trump and Brussels also quarrelled over taxing big tech platforms after France led a group of several EU states by hitting Google, Facebook and others with a special levy.
Washington fought back with a wave of counter-tariffs that Biden has frozen, as both sides await a worldwide deal on how to better tax big tech companies.
A final statement from the meeting in Brussels will allude to these battles, with diplomats behind the scenes trying to find the right language to display good intentions, but without giving too much ground.
Washington will also express concern over the controversial agreement reached in December between the EU and China that would open the Chinese market to European companies.
The implementation of the deal, however, is currently frozen following EU sanctions over Uyghur rights violations and counter-sanctions from Beijing.
Biden and the EU chiefs will also agree to cooperate in something called a Trade and Technology Council that will attempt to write joint rules for artificial intelligence and other innovations over the coming years.
The senior US administration official described the council as an important initiative that would serve as a platform for cooperation for years ahead.
“The notion here is that the United States and Europe laid the foundation for the world economy after World War II and now have to work together to write the rules of the road for the next generation, particularly in the areas of economics and emerging technologies,” the official said.
Though unnamed, China is the important backdrop for the idea, which will set the ground for “new technologies based on our shared democratic values, including respect for human rights,” the draft communique says.Both sides will also set up an EU-Russia forum in order to exchange ideas on facing increasingly disruptive moves by Moscow, with a special focus on fighting disinformation and other flagrant misuses of technology.
Brussels and Washington will also set up a joint forum about Russia in order to exchange ideas on facing increasingly disruptive moves by Moscow, with a special focus on fighting disinformation and other flagrant misuses of technology.
The model is based on an existing forum on China that meets to find ways to more closely align the EU-US stance toward Beijing’s growing global influence.
“Transatlantic unity is essential for maximum pressure” on Moscow, a European official acknowledged.
“This is just the beginning of a conversation — it’s the beginning of a process, a first reset of the relationship,” said Ricardo Borges de Castro of the European Policy Center.
Biden seeks EU support on China, but trade battles persist
https://arab.news/nbx8x
Biden seeks EU support on China, but trade battles persist
- Senior US official: ‘This speaks to President Biden’s fundamental strategy of managing competition with China’
New York declares January Muslim American Heritage Month
JEDDAH: The Muslim Council of Elders welcomed the announcement by the State of New York in the United States designating January as a month to celebrate Islamic heritage, noting that the step reflects a deep appreciation for the civilizational, cultural and humanitarian contributions of Muslims, and their role in enriching societies and promoting the values of diversity and coexistence.
In a statement, the council said the announcement embodies a growing awareness of the importance of recognizing cultural and religious diversity as a source of strength for societies, and contributes to fostering a culture of mutual respect and building bridges of understanding among followers of different religions and cultures.
Accordingly, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Jan. 2 issued the first-ever proclamation declaring January as Muslim American Heritage Month across New York State. She also directed 16 state landmarks to be illuminated in green in observance of the month and in celebration of the heritage and culture of Muslim Americans.
“Home to the largest Muslim American population in the nation, New York is proud to join in this month-long celebration, recognizing the values, faith and traditions of our Muslim American communities,” Hochul said. “New York remains committed to being a beacon of hope, tolerance, and inclusivity that celebrates the diversity of its Muslim American population and protects them from Islamophobia, hate, bias, and harm.”
For the first time in state history, January has been proclaimed Muslim American Heritage Month. The designation recognizes the significant contributions Muslim Americans have made throughout history in fields including the arts, sciences, mathematics, technology, literature, music, medicine and philosophy, and encourages New Yorkers to better appreciate and understand the rich cultures, histories and principles of the Muslim American community.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said: “While I was proud to be sworn in as our city’s first Muslim mayor yesterday, Muslims have been part of New York for centuries. We have built small businesses, raised our families, pursued every profession, enriched our culture and cuisine, and been a part of what makes our city what it is today. I am grateful for Governor Hochul’s leadership in recognizing these many contributions and ensuring that every January, Muslim New Yorkers can see ourselves reflected and recognized in a city and state that is also our home.”
16 landmarks will be illuminated in green in honor of Muslim American Heritage Month including One World Trade Center, the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Kosciuszko Bridge, the H. Carl McCall SUNY Building, the State Education Building, the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Empire State Plaza, the State Fairgrounds Main Gate and Expo Center, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Mid-Hudson Bridge, Grand Central Terminal’s Pershing Square Viaduct, Albany International Airport Gateway, the MTA LIRR East End Gateway at Penn Station, the Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal, Moynihan Train Hall, the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse and Niagara Falls.
New York City Councilmember Shahana Hanif said: “As the first Muslim woman elected in New York State, I applaud Governor Hochul’s designation of January as Muslim American Heritage Month. My Muslim identity is inseparable from being Brooklyn-born and raised. From Brooklyn to Buffalo, Muslim New Yorkers reflect the extraordinary diversity, resilience, and contributions that define our state. This recognition is more than symbolic—it affirms that New York’s history and future cannot be told without its Muslim communities, and I am proud to be a Muslim New Yorker.”
New York City Councilmember Yusef Salaam said: “For the first time, New York is proclaiming January as Muslim American Heritage Month and lighting state landmarks green to honor the state’s vibrant Muslim community — and I thank the Governor and the many Muslim advocates who fought to make this recognition a reality. This acknowledgment affirms our deep roots and lasting contributions to the fabric of New York.”
Imam Mansoor Rafiq Umar of the Muslim Community of Bethlehem said: “As a Muslim born in the great state of New York, I carry with me the confidence of ‘One nation under God’ to the same tune as passionate believers of all faiths across America. Honoring the heritage of our people is truly a significant statement by our Governor, Kathy Hochul, that we are a part of the fabric of our nation that undergirds the common threads of goodwill. We are blessed to live in a state with balance in recognizing its diverse demographics, and an administration that engages its people without indulging in otherism. To all those honoring Muslim-American Heritage Month, we stand together, green lights a-lit on every monument, saluting our past giants, honoring our present stewards, and lifting the future leaders yet to come.”
Emgage Metro NY Senior Advisor Dr. Debbie Almontaser said: “As a longtime educator and one who believes in diversity, equity and inclusion, I commend and thank Governor Hochul for inaugurating January as Muslim American Heritage Month in the State of New York. This has been a lifetime dream where every Muslim child will feel acknowledged, heard and valued by their government.”
Muslim Public Affairs Council of Western New York inaugural president Dr. Khalid J. Qazi said: “The declaration of Muslim American Heritage Month affirms New York’s enduring commitment to diversity, dignity, and inclusion. It honors the rich history, faith, and profound contributions of generations of Muslim New Yorkers whose leadership, service, and innovation strengthen our communities, enrich the fabric of our state and celebrates our shared humanity.”
