France expresses regret over US withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord

France has expressed regret over USA's decision, on November 5, to formally inform the United Nations that it was withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord. France criticised the move which makes the Franco-Chinese partnership on climate and biodiversity even more important as the French President Emmanuel Macron was on an official trip to China. Macron and its Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are expected to sign a joint document on climate during the meet in Beijing on Wednesday that will declare a permanent Paris Accord without any further modifications, according to the French Presidency.

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US expected to withdraw from the Paris Accord on November 4, 2020

US President Donald Trump went ahead with the decision to exit from the Paris Accord knowing the escalating impact and reality of climate change. September became the fourth month in the row with record-breaking temperatures. The US submitted its withdrawal letter to the UN under the deal negotiated by ex-President of the US Barack Obama. The US is expected to withdraw from the Paris Accord on November 4, 2020, one day after the US election in which Trump is seeking a second term. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, announcing the move, said that the agreement imposed an unnecessary economic burden on the US.

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Paris accord disturbs the economy: Trump

On June 1, 2017, President Trump stated that the US would stop all participation in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change talks. He said that the Paris accord would disturb the economy and it put the US at a permanent disadvantage. During a presidential campaign, Trump promised to withdraw from the pact stating the withdrawal would help American traders and workers. According to Article 28 of the Paris Agreement, the earliest possible effective withdrawal date by the US cannot be before November 4, 2020, just one day after the US presidential elections. The White House later made it clear that the US would obey the four-year exit procedures.

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