I. Introduction
The fourth Ministerial meeting of the Trade and Technology Council (“TTC”) convened in Luleå, Sweden, on May 31, 2023, with the co-chairship of European Commission Executive Vice Presidents Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovskis, along with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, United States Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai. The meeting was also attended by European Commissioner Thierry Breton and hosted by the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
During this event, the European Union and the United States reaffirmed the central role of the TTC in their broader transatlantic partnership. This strategic partnership’s significance was emphasized in light of Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine, which both parties condemned. They expressed their unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine.
The TTC continues to play a vital role in facilitating coordinated responses to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, focusing on areas such as export restrictions related to sanctions and addressing foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and disinformation campaigns. These efforts aim to safeguard human rights, protect democracies, and ensure the well-being of societies, both domestically and internationally.
Recognizing the evolving global landscape, the European Union and the United States stressed the need for increased cooperation and information exchange to address economic security challenges. Their cooperation is firmly grounded in the international rules-based system, which they are dedicated to strengthening. This commitment extends to working with other partners, including the G7, to enhance supply chain diversification, counter non-market policies, and bolster preparedness, resilience, and economic coercion deterrence.
The European Union and the United States are jointly committed to promoting and upholding an international rules-based order rooted in shared values. They collaborate on multilateral trade and technology discussions in forums such as the G20 and G7 while seeking solutions to modernize global trade rules, including reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO), in preparation for the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference.
Given the rapid pace of technological advancements, the European Union and the United States aim to deepen their cooperation on technology matters, including artificial intelligence (AI), 6G, online platforms, and quantum technologies. They are dedicated to harnessing the potential of emerging technologies while safeguarding universal human rights and democratic values. In this context, they are committed to advancing the principles presented in the Declaration for the Future of the Internet (DFI) alongside like-minded partners. Both entities share a mutual commitment to developing skilled workforces to drive the next wave of economic growth.
In response to the urgent need to address the challenges of climate change, the European Union and the United States are integrating decarbonization efforts into their trade policies, expediting the transition to a net-zero economy. Through the Transatlantic Initiative for Sustainable Trade, both entities are reinforcing their engagement in establishing a transatlantic green marketplace. Their work on a Global Sustainable Arrangement for Steel and Aluminium reflects their determination to meet this challenge, with an ambitious outcome anticipated by October 2023.
In March, during President von der Leyen’s visit to the White House, the European Union and the United States initiated negotiations for a critical minerals agreement. This agreement aims to enable critical minerals extracted or processed within the European Union to contribute to the requirements for clean vehicles under the Section 30D clean vehicle tax credit of the Inflation Reduction Act. It is part of a broader effort to collaborate on securing supplies of critical minerals.
Additionally, the European Union and the United States launched the Clean Energy Incentives Dialogue to facilitate the exchange of information about clean energy incentive programs on both sides of the Atlantic. This dialogue will also serve as a platform to discuss systemic issues related to incentive programs’ design and impact, fostering a common understanding of market dynamics. The parties plan to undertake joint analyses of non-market policies and practices of third parties to better comprehend their effects on US and EU companies.
II. Key Outcomes of the Fourth TTC Ministerial Meeting
Robust Transatlantic Cooperation on Emerging Technologies for Joint EU-US Leadership
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as a technology with immense potential to enhance prosperity and equity for our societies. However, realizing these opportunities necessitates a concurrent commitment to mitigate potential risks. In this regard, the European Union and the United States reaffirm their dedication to a risk-based approach to AI, prioritizing the development of trustworthy and responsible AI technologies. Collaborating on these approaches is pivotal to fostering responsible AI innovation that upholds rights and safety, ensuring AI’s alignment with shared democratic values.
Recent advancements in generative AI underscore the substantial opportunities and associated risks. These developments underscore the urgency and significance of ongoing AI cooperation within the TTC, particularly through the implementation of the Joint Roadmap on Evaluation and Measurement Tools for Trustworthy AI and Risk Management. Special attention will be placed on generative AI, its prospects, and challenges, further complementing the G7 Hiroshima AI process.
The European Union and the United States have taken notable steps in the implementation of the Joint Roadmap on Evaluation and Measurement Tools for Trustworthy AI and Risk Management. This progress includes the launch of three dedicated expert groups focusing on:
- AI terminology and taxonomy,
- Cooperation on AI standards and tools for trustworthy AI and risk management,
- Monitoring and measuring existing and emerging AI risks.
These groups have issued a list of 65 key AI terms essential for comprehending risk-based AI approaches, along with their respective EU and U.S. interpretations and shared definitions. Additionally, they have mapped the involvement of the European Union and the United States in standardization activities, aiming to identify relevant AI-related standards of mutual interest. Collaboration with industry, civil society, and academia will continue, with an intention to expand shared AI terms, advance AI standards and tools for risk management, and develop an understanding of challenges associated with generative AI.
Both parties commit to ongoing cooperation in multilateral forums, including the G7 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). They remain active in the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence as founding members.
AI Cooperation to Address Global Challenges
On January 27, 2023, the European Commission and the United States formalized their commitment to collaborate on advanced AI research in areas of shared importance. These areas include extreme weather and climate forecasting, emergency response management, health and medicine improvements, energy grid optimization, and agriculture optimization. The aim is to share findings and resources with other international partners, including low- and middle-income countries, to maximize societal benefits.
The parties intend to initiate the implementation of this cooperation by creating an internal catalogue of relevant research results and resources in these five focus areas. This includes exchanging information on challenges in using AI for Earth Science Digital Twins and identifying areas of collaboration.
Standardization Work on Critical and Emerging Technologies
The European Union and the United States are making significant progress in developing joint technical specifications for critical and emerging technologies. They actively encourage the development of international standards for additive manufacturing (3D printing), with the participation of ISO, CEN, and ASTM, particularly in the context of health and safety. This collaboration aims to bolster transatlantic development in additive manufacturing, a sector poised for substantial growth, enabling innovative designs and material compositions for manufactured parts.
In the realm of digital identity, the European Union and the United States have been engaging subject matter experts through technical exchanges and events involving government, industry, civil society, and academia. By the next EU-US TTC Ministerial, a transatlantic mapping of digital identity resources, initiatives, and use cases will be developed to advance pre-standardization research efforts, facilitate interoperability, and streamline implementation guidance while respecting human rights.
Both entities have cooperated to establish a standard for charging electric heavy-duty vehicles, aligned with the Megawatt Charging System (MCS) adoption by IEC, SAE, and ISO. This collaboration aims to ensure compatibility of physical connectors and a common vehicle-to-grid communication interface for all power levels, reducing manufacturing and deployment costs. It also opens opportunities for MCS applications in various sectors, including inland shipping, marine, mining, and aviation.
By the end of 2023, the European Union and the United States plan to develop joint policy recommendations to accelerate SMEs’ access to digital tools and their participation in international standardization activities, supported by feedback collected from SMEs. Additionally, they aim to explore best practices for educating and training technical experts in standards development, especially with regard to critical and emerging technologies.
E-Mobility Standards and Interoperability with Smart Grids
The publication of joint technical recommendations for government-funded implementation of e-vehicle charging infrastructure is welcomed. These recommendations, developed in consultation with governments, industry, and grid-service stakeholders, aim to efficiently roll out publicly funded charging infrastructure, enhance power grids, and boost competitiveness in global markets.
Exploratory Discussions on the Circular Economy and Green Public Procurement Policies
Exploratory discussions have taken place regarding the use of digital initiatives and tools to promote the circular economy, including the EU Digital Product Passport. This initiative focuses on collecting and securely sharing product-related data to enhance product sustainability and supply chain transparency, fostering sustainable business models.
Additionally, a joint EU-US initiative on green public procurement policies is launched, aiming to deepen the commonalities between their respective approaches to public procurement. This initiative could also inform discussions within the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement.
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