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Norwegian business and industry cannot expect major changes in US trade policy, says Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide. On Tuesday he met his new American colleague for the first time.
Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide believes that contact with the United States will be easier in the future. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten, NTB
– The United States clearly marks that they are back in the international arena, says Ine Eriksen Søreide.
On Tuesday, she had a video meeting with Antony Blinken for the first time. Hen is the new Secretary of State of the United States. According to Eriksen Søreide, it was both “a long and good meeting.”
After four years with Donald Trump in the White House, he has a lot to look forward to. He points out that the United States will once again take the lead in the fight for democracy and human rights. She says it’s good for Americans to get back to work against man-made climate change, too.
Eriksen Søreide tells Aftenposten that it will be easier to relate to the new US government. Under Trump, he sometimes experienced as if “satellites connected to the White House” were following foreign policy.
– Creates a lot of extra work and unpredictability, says the Foreign Minister.
Antony Blinken is a very experienced diplomat. Photo: Joshua Roberts, Reuters / NTB
Still protectionist
President Joe Biden has made it clear that the United States will rejoin the institutions left by Trump. This applies, for example, to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Agreement.
Under Trump, the United States showed little interest in following the rules of international trade. He refused to appoint new judges to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In the conversation between the two chancellors, Antony Blinken made it clear that Joe Biden’s priorities are very clear.
– We must be realistic in terms of what American attention will focus on. Blinken was very clear about it.
She says the Biden administration puts two issues on top. They must fight the corona pandemic. And they want the US economy to work.
The latter is also a signal to protect American jobs from foreign competition.
Traditionally, it is the Democratic Party that is most eager to protect American jobs through tariffs and trade barriers. Under Trump, a large section of Republicans in Congress became clearer supporters of a protectionist policy.
Will follow the rules
Everything indicates that a solid majority in Congress is skeptical of free trade. Eriksen Søreide is still looking forward to it. She acknowledges that Biden and Blinken will emphasize following the rules of international trade.
She says Norway has its disagreements with the United States when it comes to trade. It peaked when Trump imposed high tariffs on steel and aluminum.
– There is a clear disagreement here. We raise this with other countries. We point out that the US argument on national security runs contrary to WTO regulations, he says.
Although the US still wants to protect the domestic market, Eriksen Søreide sees a better future:
– It will be easier for us to relate and create more predictability, says the Foreign Minister.
