Disputes Over Tariffs, Chinese Policies, and Security Concerns Loom Over Key Discussions
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, along with senior Biden administration officials, has begun two days of critical trade and technology discussions with European Union counterparts in Pittsburgh. The talks are aimed at addressing a variety of disputes, including U.S. tariffs on EU steel and aluminum imports, while also taking a unified stance against China’s growing commercial influence.
The negotiations are further complicated by recent EU discontent over being excluded from a new U.S.-UK-Australian security partnership in the Indo-Pacific, designed to counter China’s assertiveness in the region.
In Pittsburgh, Blinken is joined by Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Trade Representative Katherine Tai, while the European Commission delegation is led by Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovskis, with Stavros Lambrinidis serving as the EU’s ambassador to Washington.
The inaugural meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council will focus on critical issues, including semiconductors, supply chains, vaccines, climate change, and technological developments like AI and advanced 6G networks. The talks are expected to lead to joint statements on key principles and potential announcements on these pivotal topics, along with the creation of working groups to address ongoing concerns such as digital security, competitiveness, and global trade challenges.
