Delegations from the world's two largest economies met Monday on the campus of the University of Maryland, in the suburbs of Washington, for a third meeting as part of the Council for Commerce and Technology (TTC).

In particular, they announced the creation of a transatlantic initiative in favor of sustainable trade, which should make it possible to "support the transition to a low-carbon economy" and "increase transatlantic investment and trade", according to the joint press release.

The TTC was launched by US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in June 2021.

The discussions brought together Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Trade Minister Gina Raimondo and Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai on the American side, and on the European side, Commissioners Valdis Dombrovskis, in charge of Trade, and Margrethe Vestager, for Competition. .

The United States and the EU have also announced their desire to move forward with "the establishment of an information exchange mechanism" on public support granted to the semiconductor sector, "in order to improve transparency.

European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager and Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the University of Maryland, in College Park, December 5, 2022 © SAUL LOEB / AFP/Archives

They also said they want to work on international standards on artificial intelligence, and study the development of "trustworthy AI and taking into account the management of the risks" related.

"Waiting for a more solid response

On the other hand, little progress has been made regarding the discussions relating to the major American plan for the climate and employment (IRA), the subject which nevertheless arouses concern both in Brussels and in European capitals.

"We have the will to move forward together, not at the expense of each other", assured Antony Blinken during a press conference after the meetings.

For his part, Valdis Dombrovskis declared himself "rather optimistic" as to the outcome of the discussions on the subject, which will be carried out by a special working group between Europeans and Americans.

This statement joins the sentiment expressed by French President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to Washington last week, during which he also declared himself "optimistic" about the consideration of European fears by the Biden administration.

European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, at the University of Maryland in College Park, December 5, 2022 © SAUL LOEB / POOL/AFP

On the European side, however, we recognize that a possible change in the legislation will be "very difficult", according to European officials present on the spot.

"There is a desire to take our concerns into account without entering into confrontation", confirmed to the press a European official present on the spot, despite "the expectation of a more solid response" from the United States.

European officials want to build on previous discussions on semiconductors, for which cooperation is considered "very positive".

They are thus seen as "a good starting point" to move forward on concerns related to the IRA, the same source explained.

The American room for maneuver is however reduced on this text, between the loss of the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives at the beginning of January, a consequence of the mid-term elections, and the highly symbolic aspect of the plan for Joe Biden.

European Commissioner Thierry Breton, in charge of the internal market, had also chosen not to accompany his colleagues to the United States because of the lack of progress expected on this subject.

"The TTC's agenda does not leave enough space to respond to the concerns of many European ministers and industrialists, so the commissioner has decided not to attend," it was explained at his office in Brussels on Friday.

The EU and the United States also again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and their willingness to continue supporting the Ukrainian government.

The two parties assured that they were working to limit "the dissemination of false information by Russia, in particular to Africa and Latin America".

© 2022 AFP