The Swedish Presidency of the EU Council is preparing to host the fourth meeting of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Luleå on 30 and 31 May. The joint declaration to be adopted at the end of the meeting was still not the subject of consensus among the EU27 Member States with 4 days to go on Friday 26 May. The Member States’ permanent representatives to the EU are due to meet again on Tuesday 30 May to attempt to approve a final version of the document.
In particular, the language around economic coercion and the use of China as an example of a third country adopting uncompetitive policies. Washington has insisted in recent days on including examples involving China, and the European Commission has tried to insert such passages into the declaration, according to two European sources.
For example, the revised version of 26 May, as seen by EUROPE, mentions China’s practices in the medical devices sector. On this subject, the two partners indicate in this copy of the text that they are “exploring possible coordinated actions”. Beijing discriminates against imported medical equipment, particularly through certification procedures and public procurement contracts.
Chinese practices in the field of consumer semiconductors are also mentioned as a common point of concern. The Commission has insisted on the balanced nature of the different terms to the EU27.
But a number of Member States have commented on them and asked the Commission to review its drafts. According to a European source, compromises were in sight with the United States on Friday regarding the removal of certain references to China.
The paragraph on outbound investment has also been the subject of comments from a number of member countries (see EUROPE 13187/17).
These issues aside, the statement will highlight the TTC’s successes to date. These include an agreement on the recognition of standards for charging systems for heavy-duty electric vehicles, and the launch of the Transatlantic Sustainable Trade Initiative.
A work programme annexed to the joint declaration details the results achieved at this fourth TTC meeting, as well as the work leading up to the fifth.
For example, the two parties have announced the publication, by summer 2023, of a joint catalogue of best practice on green public procurement. On this basis, the two partners wish to launch an EU-US initiative on green public procurement policies at the next meeting of the TTC.
They will also launch an early warning mechanism on supply chain disruptions in key sectors for the green transition. This should initially focus on solar panels, according to the document annexed to the joint declaration.
See the provisional version of the joint declaration, dated 23 May: https://aeur.eu/f/71l (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)