Department of Commerce Hosts Virtual Stakeholder Info Session on Transatlantic Commerical Cooperation
For Immediate Release
November 22, 2021
Contact: Office of Public Affairs
Phone: 202-482-3809
WASHINGTON— In June 2021, at the U.S.-EU Summit in Brussels, President Joe Biden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Union Council President Charles Michel established the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) that introduces a forum to coordinate approaches to key global trade, economic and technology issues while also deepening transatlantic and economic relations with policies based on shared democratic values.
During its inaugural meeting in Pittsburgh on Sep. 29, the TTC co-chairs—Department of State Secretary Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager and European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis—pledged to consult closely with diverse stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic to inform the work of the TTC.
On Nov. 18, in the spirit of continuing to deliver on the Biden Administration’s promise of robust stakeholder engagement on the TTC, the Department of Commerce - International Trade Administration’s Europe Office hosted a major virtual event for U.S. stakeholders interested in transatlantic commercial cooperation.
More than 350 U.S. stakeholders participated and were briefed on the goals of the TTC by representatives of the three U.S. government agency co-chairs: The Department of Commerce, the Department of State, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
Participants joined breakout sessions to exchange views and provide input on four of the 10 TTC working groups, which included Secure Supply Chains, Promoting SME Access to and Use of Digital Technologies, ICT Security and Competitiveness, and Technology Standards Cooperation.
During these breakout sessions, working group leads from the departments of Commerce and State shared priorities and goals and heard directly from stakeholders representing industry, civil society and labor regarding interests and issues for the TTC.
“By working with our partners in industry, labor and civil society here and across the Atlantic, we will continue to build on the shared democratic values between the U.S. and the E.U. and ensure even greater mutual benefits from the world’s largest economic relationship,” said Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo.
The Commerce Department welcomes further input from all stakeholders regarding these topics. For more information on the TTC and future Commerce-led TTC events, as well as to provide input to TTC Working Groups, visit our U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council webpage.