On The Road With Biden -- G20 summit

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   Sharlee01posted 2 years ago

   
   
   Today Oct 29, 2021-- President  Biden's first meeting of the day was at the Vatican, where he praised Pope Francis for his leadership on climate change. Biden gifted Pope Francis a special coin and called him "the most significant warrior for peace I've ever met." He joked that if the pontiff did not have the coin with him at their next meeting, he would have to "buy the drinks".
   
   Pope Francis gave Biden a ceramic tile and his recent writings on Catholic teaching.
   
   Biden then met with  France's Emmanuel Macron.
   "It was the first meeting between the two leaders since the Aukus pact - which will let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines instead of France.
   
   Aukus caused a row with France, which lost a $37bn deal with Australia.
   "What we did was clumsy," Mr Biden said. "I was under the impression that France had been informed long before that the deal was not going through, honest to God."
   
   The Aukus pact, which will also cover AI and other technologies, is one of Australia's biggest defence partnerships in decades, and is seen as an effort to counter China.
   
   It scuppered a deal signed by Australia in 2016 for France to build 12 conventional submarines.
   
   At the time, France's foreign minister called the security pact "a stab in the back", and France temporarily recalled its US and Australian ambassadors.
   
   Speaking after meeting Mr Biden on Friday, Mr Macron told reporters: "Trust is like love, declarations are good, but proof is better." The two leaders also spoke about climate change, counter-terrorism in West Africa and European defence." Source  --   https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59085806
   https://www.reuters.com/world/rebuildin … 021-10-29/
   
   Thoughts thus far...

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2. 77

   Kathryn L Hillposted 2 years ago

   "The G20 was born in 1999 as a consultation forum between finance ministers and central bank governors of the world’s major economies. Following the 2008 economic crisis, it became a forum between Heads of State and Government, aimed at improving coordination on the main global issues."
   
   https://www.g20.org

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3. 77

   Kathryn L Hillposted 2 years ago

   FYI
   France
   The French government received official notification from Australia that the Attack-class submarine project was to be cancelled only a few hours before it was publicly announced. Le Monde reported that the original cost of the project in 2016 was €35 billion of which €8 billion (A$12 billion) was to go to French companies. The project was reportedly going to employ 4,000 people in France over six years at Naval Group and its 200 subcontractors.
   
   The French government was angered by both the cancellation of the Attack-class submarine project and not being made aware of the negotiations that led to the AUKUS agreement.
   
   In a joint statement, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and armed forces minister Florence Parly expressed disappointment at Australia's decision to abandon their joint submarine program with France.
   
   Le Drian further stated in a radio interview that the contract termination was a "stab in the back". On 17 September, France recalled its ambassadors from Australia and the US. Despite tension in the past, France had never before withdrawn its ambassador to the United States. In a statement, Le Drian said that the "exceptional decision is justified by the exceptional gravity of the [AUKUS] announcements" and that the snap cancellation of the submarine contract "constituted unacceptable behaviour between allies and partners". French president Emmanuel Macron has not commented but is reported to be "furious" about the turn of events.
   
   In response to questions about the Australia-EU trade deal currently being negotiated, French Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune stated that he doesn't see how France can trust Australia. Arnaud Danjean, a French MEP, said that "Australians can expect more than a delay in concluding the Free Trade Agreement with the EU".
   
   French Lowy Institute policy analyst Hervé Lemahieu said the diplomatic damage from the cancellation will take years to repair and leave a lasting legacy of mistrust". After a call between the French and US presidents, the French ambassador is to return to the US.

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4. 77

   Kathryn L Hillposted 2 years ago

   "The two leaders shared a warm handshake for the cameras after Biden kept Macron waiting for more than one and a half hours, before sitting down to talks over climate, counter-terrorism in West Africa and European defense."
   
   Way to go, Biden.
   Lol!

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      Sharlee01posted 2 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, it was a handshake where Biden clearly would not let go of Macron's hand --- Very weird photo op. Macron's demeanor was very cool towards Biden.

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      1. 79

         Sharlee01posted 2 years agoin reply to this

         G20 leaders find agreement on global tax deal.
         U.S. compliance came up as a question because it owns 28% of the world's 2,000 largest multinationals
         
         The Latest on the Group of 20 summit taking place in Rome ---
         Broad support' for 15% tax Leaders have expressed "broad support" for a landmark deal to establish a 15% global minimum corporate tax that aims at deterring multinational countries from using clever accounting to elude taxes by using low-rate havens.
         
         Leaders spoke on the proposal during the opening session Saturday of the summit, said officials from host country Italy. Following formal approval to be reflected in Sunday’s closing statement, countries would enact the minimum tax on their own. The idea is that headquarters countries would raise a company’s tax to 15% if the firm’s profits went undertaxed in another country.
         
         In today’s digital and global economy, profits can come from intangibles such as copyrights and trademarks and can be easily shifted to countries offering near-zero taxes in hopes of attracting revenue they otherwise wouldn’t have.
         
         Late I knew  Congress will need to pass such legislation to join in this promise...   the U.S. is home to 28% of the world’s 2,000 largest multinationals. 
         
         Now, this should be interesting.

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            Ken Burgessposted 2 years agoin reply to this

            The Global Tax Deal once complete will be the death knell of National Sovereignty much in the way our forming of the United States of America was the death knell for States Rights and Sovereignty.
            
            The United States of America will have higher Authorities to answer to and be beholden to.  There will be a day when International Authorities are knocking on people's doors in America... not just State and Federal.

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            1. 79

               Sharlee01posted 2 years agoin reply to this

               Oh yes, this deal will have us getting a huge shaft, and chipping further into our democracy as we know it. We can hope Congress won't cooperate and vote it down. Biden is in his glory with his BS. It's what he does best.
               
               Was it not Obama that hoped to become one world, and have America beholden to the EU? I think I can safely state that.  We have one hope that the Republicans will fight like hell against this Global tax deal. 
               
               What the hell is next with this administration? 
               
               Have you ever looked into the Obama Foundation? Yes deflecting a bit, but it suits the narrative of this Global tax. Makes me wonder could Obama be pulling some of Joe's strings?
               https://www.obama.org/europe-2020/

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                  Sharlee01posted 2 years agoin reply to this

                  Go Figure ?    ROME, Oct 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday urged major G20 energy-producing countries with spare capacity to boost production to ensure a stronger global economic recovery as part of a broad effort to pressure OPEC and its partners to increase oil supply.
                  
                  Biden did everything he could to reduce America's energy production to aid his agenda of promoting new green energy and has us in a state of paying more for gas, more to heat our homes and businesses. So what is the difference if our blue marble pollutes in Europe or here?  Are we not all under one atmosphere?  So, in Europe Biden feels energy production is front and center, but here in America is shoved into the corner. 
                  
                  This is once again a topsy turvy decision. My gosh if this was not so disturbing it would be laughable.  Anyone awake out there or care to share a thought on this form of latest discombobulated thinking?

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                     Sharlee01posted 2 years agoin reply to this

                     More problem-solving, Joe is on the case ---  Biden looks for solutions to supply chain crisis on the final day of G20... More hot air no solutions at all. More committees more talk, more BS. When is he coming home? This is all a bit embarrassing.
                     
                     "President Joe Biden said on Sunday that he is signing an executive order intended to streamline stockpiling efforts as he looks for solutions supply chain logjams, part of a number of efforts taking place during his final day in Rome for the Group of 20 summit.
                     
                     The order delegates authority to the Pentagon to release materials from the National Defense Stockpile, which the White House says would allow for quicker response to supply shortages.
                     
                     On Sunday, Biden also announced increased funding to promote international supply chain resilience, which he said would help the US and international partners "cut port congestion by slashing red tape." And he is directing his secretaries of State and Commerce to convene a summit next year focused on the issue."  Please read the article if interested in more of Biden's solutions to our problems at our ports.
                     Yes, you read right --- first of the year.
                     
                     https://www.kake.com/story/45094404/bid … day-of-g20

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                        Sharlee01posted 2 years agoin reply to this

                        Well, it is on to Glasgow for Biden and 13  of his cabinet members. The AP summed up his time in Roma.
                        
                        "ROME (AP) — Leaders of the Group of 20 countries haggled for two days in Rome over steps to tackle climate change and a pandemic recovery that is diverging between rich and poor countries. Climate change dominated their summit, which ended just as an annual U.N. Climate Change Conference was opening in Glasgow, Scotland.
                        
                        G-20 negotiators worked all night from Saturday to Sunday on the wording of the summit’s concluding statement. They labored to bridge the gap between a push for a tougher climate stance from European countries going into the 13-day Glasgow conference and concerns from China, India and Russia, where fossil fuels and coal play a major role.
                        
                        These are the key takeaways from what was agreed on in Rome - and what wasn’t.
                        
                        - The summit arrived at compromise wording for when G-20 nations need to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. That means producing emissions at a level where they can be removed from the atmosphere by oceans, forests and abatement measures. The Group of Seven rich democracies have set 2050 as the latest date, but leaders of the larger G-20 forum settled on “by or around mid-century.” China, Saudi Arabia and Russia have set 2060 as their goal for reaching carbon neutrality.
                        
                        - The leaders agreed to end public financing for coal-fired power generation abroad, matching a decision by the G-7 members during their June summit in Cornwall, England. But the G-20 set no target for phasing out coal domestically, a decision that was a clear nod to top carbon emitters China and India.
                        
                        - The Group of 20 concurred that the impacts of climate change, such as extreme storms, floods and rising sea levels, will be “much lower” if the average increase in global temperature can be held to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). The 2015 Paris accords seek to keep the rise “well below” 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) and to “pursue efforts” to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
                        
                        — Aside from climate issues, the leaders signed off on a landmark agreement for countries to enact a global minimum corporate tax of 15%. The global minimum is aimed at deterring multinational companies from dodging taxes by shifting profits to countries with ultra-low rates where the companies may do little actual business.
                        
                        — The leaders also said they would keep working on a French initiative for wealthier countries to re-channel $100 billion in financial support to needier countries in Africa in the form of special drawing rights - a foreign exchange tool used to help finance imports allocated by the International Monetary Fund and also received by advanced countries. Individual countries already have allocated some $45 billion.
                        
                        The proposal reflects concern that the post-pandemic recovery is diverging, with richer countries rebounding faster due to extensive vaccinations and large amounts of stimulus spending that poorer countries cannot afford."  https://apnews.com/article/climate-g-20 … 7ce1609bb1
                        
                        My view --- a waste of taxpayers cash, and it is clear nothing was set in stone, all blah blah blah. Hopefully, someone here will be able to provide something a bit positive, that I missed.

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5. 77

   Kathryn L Hillposted 2 years ago

   The purpose of A*UK* US:
   
   "... the US and the UK will help Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. Although the joint announcement by Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, British prime minister Boris Johnson and US president Joe Biden did not mention any other country by name, anonymous White House sources have alleged it is designed to counter the influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region.
   
   However, Johnson later told parliament that the move was not intended to be adversarial toward China."
   
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AUKUS

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