WASHINGTON – Today, global tech trade association ITI issued recommendations for the proposed EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council, outlining key digital policy areas such as AI, data governance and data flows, and competition policy, in which the U.S. and EU should seek to deepen engagement. The recommendations come as the European Commission continues to pursue a number of ambitious legislative initiatives under its digital sovereignty agenda, and follows recent, renewed calls by the European Commission to establish such a Council as the Biden Administration prepares to take office.

“ITI strongly supports the establishment of an EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council as a timely and necessary forum to expand on recent trade discussions and enhance transatlantic cooperation, facilitate regulatory compatibility, and to address current and prevent the emergence of market access barriers,” ITI wrote in the document. “We believe that by prioritizing openness, shared economic objectives, and market-driven global competitiveness, the United States and EU can chart a path for sustainable, values-driven global leadership in the digital-driven 21st century economy.”

ITI lists AI, data governance and data sharing, cloud computing, cybersecurity, platform governance, 5G, competition, digital taxation, digital trade commitments, and services market access as key policy areas for the EU and the U.S. to consider.

In addition to digital policy and digital trade, ITI proposed that the scope of an EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council also be comprised of engagement on:

  • Standardization and Conformity Assessment, including discussions to explore innovative and transparent mechanisms that allow industry and regulators alike to consistently rely on global, industry-driven, voluntary consensus standards – including services standards – as a means of demonstrating conformance with new regulatory requirements;
  • Technology, Investment, and Security, including discussions to align policy approaches in areas including investment screening and export controls;
  • Combatting Unfair Trading Practices and Facilitating Multilateral Collaboration, including discussions to further progress toward shared, rules-based approaches to addressing unfair and market-distorting trading practices; and
  • Climate, Sustainability, and Innovation, including exploration of how to leverage new technology to accelerate and amplify the impact of policies aimed at achieving common environmental and sustainability objectives.

Read ITI’s full Recommendations for an EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council here.

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