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A2 UP FRONT
Monday 25 July 2022
Biden's global promises held back by politics at home

By CHRIS MEGERIAN, FATI- more to address challeng- the deal among 130 coun-
MA HUSSEIN and ELLEN es that span borders when tries.
KNICKMEYER he's struggling to deliver on "Reaching this consensus
Associated Press those same issues at home. wasn't easy," Biden said
WASHINGTON (AP) — Soon "Every new thing takes a when the agreement was
after taking office, Presi- little bit of the luster off, announced just over a
dent Joe Biden went to and contributes to a sense year ago. "It took American
State Department head- of a struggling president," vision, as well as a commit-
quarters to tell the rest of said Michael O'Hanlon, the ment to closely cooperate
the world that the United Brookings Institution direc- with our partners around
States could be counted tor of research for foreign the world. It's a testament
on again after four years of policy. Biden has earned to how leadership rooted in
Donald Trump's bull-in-the- respect for marshaling our values can deliver im-
china-shop foreign policy. an international response portant progress for families
"America is back," Biden to the Russian invasion of everywhere."
said, in what has become President Joe Biden leaves after speaking about Intel's an- Ukraine, and the U.S. has He acknowledged that
nouncement to invest in an Ohio chip making facility, at the
a mantra. South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Build- shipped more coronavirus "building on this agreement
But keeping his promises ing on the White House Campus in Washington, Jan. 21, 2022. vaccines around the world will also require us to take
on the international stage Associated Press than any other country. action here at home" —
has proved much more Adrienne Watson, a spokes- and now it looks like that
difficult than Biden might pandemic relief, undermin- tion straining to maintain person for the National Se- action may not happen.
have expected. Domes- ing hopes that Biden could its credibility abroad while curity Council, said Biden Biden wanted Congress to
tic politics have routinely swiftly restore the U.S. to Biden fights a rearguard "has restored our alliances, pass a proposal that would
been a roadblock when it its unquestioned role as a action on Capitol Hill. It's including our essential part- allow the U.S. to impose
comes to taking action on global leader. simply more difficult to nership with Europe, built extra taxes on companies
climate change, taxes and The result is an administra- press other countries to do new platforms and institu- that aren't paying at least
tions in some of the most 15%, either domestically or
relevant regions of the abroad.
world," including the Indo- But Manchin objected to
Pacific, and shown leader- tax changes in the legisla-
ship on "the issues that mat- tion that's currently under
ter the most." consideration,
But his foreign policy record Administration officials said
is much more mixed when they are not giving up on a
he needs to secure support plan that they said would
in Congress. "level the playing field for
Although he has secured U.S. businesses, decrease
close to $54 billion in military incentives to move jobs off-
and financial assistance for shore and close loopholes
Ukraine — something Wat- that corporations have
son described as a historic used to shift profits over-
amount delivered with "un- seas."
precedented speed" — Re- "It's too important for our
publicans remain uniformly economic strength and
opposed to many of his competitiveness to not fi-
initiatives, and Biden has nalize this agreement, and
been hobbled because we'll continue to look at ev-
of disagreements among ery avenue possible to get
Democrats. it done," said Michael Kiku-
The latest problem has kawa, a Treasury Depart-
been the breakdown of on- ment spokesman.
and-off negotiations with But pushing ahead with the
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. original deal will likely prove
Va., who pulled his support difficult at this point, said
for a potential compromise Chye-Ching Huang, execu-
on legislation to address cli- tive director of the Tax Law
mate change and create Center at the New York Uni-
a global minimum tax. versity School of Law.
On both issues, Biden had "It's no doubt that this re-
already made pledges duces the momentum," she
or reached an interna- said. She added: "There is
tional agreement, but the a strong possibility that the
U.S. commitment is now in major trading partners do
doubt. this without the U.S. but the
The global minimum tax is path forward is rockier."
aimed at making it harder Manchin has also been an
for companies to dodge obstacle for Biden's climate
taxes by moving from coun- change plans, a reflection
try to country in search of of his outsize influence at a
lower rates. Treasury Secre- time when Democrats hold
tary Janet Yellen played a the narrowest of margins in
leading role in negotiating the Senate.q