Recent Events

Since May 2022, the Trade and Technology Dialogue (TTD) has supported the activities of the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council (TTC), and engaged with stakeholders to bring to the fore most pressing issues for transatlantic cooperation on trade and technology.  

With the close of the third TTC Ministerial Meeting last on 5 December, and the end of the year rapidly approaching, the TTD brings to you a review of the key outcomes of the latest Ministerial, an overview of the TTD’s first semester of activities, and an outlook for stakeholder engagement opportunities in 2023.  

Third EU-U.S. TTC Ministerial Meeting 

On December 5, the EU-U.S. TTC Co-Chairs met in Maryland for the third TTC ministerial meeting, hosted by the United States. The Joint Statement released by the European Commission documented several robust deliverables which will continue to advance transatlantic relations. 

Of particular note, the TTC joint statement announced:  

• Joint Initiatives with Jamaica and Kenya in digital infrastructure and connectivity;  
• A Transatlantic Initiative for Sustainable Trade, which aims to advance the shared EU-U.S. green and sustainable trade agenda;  
• A Talent for Growth Task Force, which seeks to provide recognition and development for working-age populations 
• A TTC Joint Roadmap for Trustworthy AI and Risk Management, which will seek convergence between AI risk management approaches on both sides of the Atlantic with an eye to deepening standardisation collaboration and building a ‘shared repository of metrics for measuring AI trustworthiness and risk management methods;’ 

• A pilot project on the use of privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) and synthetic data in health and medicine;  
• A joint statement on protecting human rights defenders online;  
• The formation of a multi-stakeholder group of technical experts on internet shutdowns and the release of the group’s first report; 
• The first principal-level session of the Trade and Labor Dialogue (TALD). 
• The launch of multiple workstreams to address standards cooperation on themes including: Additive Manufacturing, Recycling of Plastics, and Digital Identity as well as intent to launch new workstreams on Post-Quantum Encryption and Internet of Things (IoT); 

• The development of multiple new research projects to explore increased facilitation of transatlantic trade, including the use of digital tools, expansion of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) and conformity assessment-related initiatives; 
• The announcement of a pilot exchange of information “on the disposition of EU exports to the United States and vice versa” to increase cooperation on export controls 
• Cooperating on resilient supply chains through an administrative arrangement to implement an early warning mechanism to address and mitigate semiconductor supply chain disruptions, and a mechanism for reciprocal sharing of information to better understand global demands.

The Trade and Technology Dialogue: Elevating Stakeholder Voices  

In the lead up to the third ministerial meeting, the Trade and Technology Dialogue worked closely with stakeholders to advance transatlantic cooperation and bolster stakeholder-to-stakeholder and government-to-stakeholder engagement within and across the ten TTC Working Groups. In its first year, the TTD’s flagship event brought together Executive Vice Presidents of the European Commission and TTC stakeholders to discuss their key concerns ahead of the third TTC Ministerial.