WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai spoke today with European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis.
Ambassador Tai and Executive Vice President Dombrovskis discussed preparations for the fourth ministerial meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), scheduled for May 30 and 31, 2023 in Sweden. They agreed on the importance of a successful ministerial meeting, with concrete outcomes that sustain the TTC’s valuable role in steering U.S.-EU coordination on a range of bilateral and global trade and technology challenges. Ambassador Tai stressed the importance of making progress in the TTC on joint responses to non-market policies and practices that harm U.S. and EU workers and businesses, and on economic coercion.
Ambassador Tai and Executive Vice President Dombrovskis also discussed the initial exchanges between the United States and the EU on a potential critical minerals agreement (CMA) after President Biden and President von der Leyen announced the start of negotiations in March 2023. A strong U.S.-EU CMA could enable relevant critical minerals extracted or processed in the EU Union to count toward requirements for clean vehicles under the Section 30D tax credit of the Inflation Reduction Act. Additionally, an ambitious U.S.-EU CMA would further our shared goals of boosting our mineral production and processing and expanding access to sources of critical minerals that are sustainable, trusted, and free of labor abuses.
Ambassador Tai and Executive Vice President Dombrovskis have met on a monthly basis over the past year, and expressed shared optimism that they can continue this pace throughout 2023.
###
