On Tuesday, US and EU officials will meet in Sweden to discuss how to best deal with China and collaborate on artificial intelligence and other future technology, as well as EU complaints over Trump-era tariffs and US green subsidies.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager will attend the fourth Trade and Technology Council (TTC) ministerial conference in Lulea, just below the Arctic Circle, for two days.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and European Commission vice president and trade director Valdis Dombrovskis will all be in attendance.
The smorgasbord of subjects, listed in a 24-page draft joint statement, includes cooperation on creating minimum criteria for generative AI algorithms, such as ChatGPT, as well as export controls and investment monitoring, both of which have previously focused on Russia.
Even though the word “China” appears only twice in the draft joint statement – on non-market behaviors and disinformation – it will be a key focus of the meeting.
According to diplomats, Washington pushed for language that echoed some of the concerns raised during the G7 leaders conference a week earlier, which China’s Global Times branded a “anti-China workshop.”
The meeting in northern Sweden comes as the European Commission unveils its “Economic Security Strategy,” which is anticipated to include measures to prevent competitors such as China from gaining access to its most sensitive technology.
Brussels wants to see cooperation to boost green trade, such as mutual recognition of products, even though the U.S. and EU do not have and do not plan to forge a free-trade agreement.
That has left EU producers excluded from some of the benefits of the United States’ projected $369 billion worth of green subsidies in its Inflation Reduction Act.
The EU is seeking progress with the U.S. towards an accord on critical minerals used for electric vehicles.
It also wants advances towards a “green steel” arrangement tackling overcapacity that is required by the end of October to avert the return of steel and aluminium tariffs imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump that were suspended in 2021 after he left office.
