US-France crisis or not, EU-US trade summit will go on anyway

US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House during his phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, in which the two discussed the conflict that erupted between France and the United States after the conclusion of the AUKUS defense pact between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.  Image REUTERS

US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House during his phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, in which the two discussed the conflict that erupted between France and the United States after the conclusion of the AUKUS defense pact between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.Image REUTERS

European sources reported Thursday that doubts about the summit followed US President Joe Biden’s decision to enter into a defense pact with Australia and the UK without consulting the EU. The Netherlands was among the countries that wanted the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) established in June to continue.

European Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager wrote on Twitter Thursday evening that the summit will take place.

France, in particular, was set on fire by the conclusion of the AUKUS defense pact which caused the EU country to miss a contract for submarines worth more than 30 billion euros. The feud between France and the United States has calmed down somewhat, after a conversation between Biden and President Emmanuel Macron. But other events, such as the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, have also shocked the EU at the lonely behavior of the United States.

There are ten working groups within the TTC in which negotiations are conducted on technological cooperation, the modernization of standards, the screening of foreign investments and the control of exports. According to insiders, the two economic superpowers have already been able to strike several deals and an agreement on artificial intelligence standards in recent weeks. This would then be announced in Pittsburgh.