EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis met with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Thursday 1 September. Their telephone conversation allowed them to discuss several current issues in transatlantic relations, but also trade disputes.
In particular, Mr Dombrovskis expressed his concerns to Ms Tai about the US tax credit on electric cars included in the new inflation reduction law. This legislation provides for electric vehicle rebates for individuals, provided that the cars are assembled in North America and that a certain percentage of the battery components come from North America as well.
During this discussion, Valdis Dombrovskis noted that discrimination against European producers complicates the electrification of vehicles in the United States and reduces the choice of American consumers who want to switch to electric vehicles.
The two participants agreed to continue discussions on this issue. The G20 Trade Ministers’ meeting in Indonesia on 21-23 September will be a first opportunity to discuss this issue before the next EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting. This is expected to take place across the Atlantic at the end of this year or early next year.
Ms Tai also expressed her concerns to the Commissioner about European and French measures on cyber security. She mentioned the adoption by the French National Agency for the Security of Information Systems (ANSSI) of new cybersecurity certification requirements for cloud computing providers and a proposal for EU cybersecurity certification. Again, both participants agreed to continue discussions on the subject in future conversations. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)