Image: European Union
Business groups urge closer regulatory alignment for emerging technologies and coordination against “discriminatory” Chinese policies
American and European business lobby groups have urged the US and EU to support research collaboration on key emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors.
The call comes ahead of a high-level ministerial meeting of the US-EU Trade and Technology Council being held on 15 and 16 May. The council was established in 2021 (pictured) with the aim of cooperating on the development of emerging technologies while “countering authoritarian influence”.
On 3 May Business Europe and the US Chamber of Commerce released a joint statement calling for the two superpowers to support research collaboration in 6G wireless telecomms, AI, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.
Uneven playing field
The lobby groups also called for “concrete steps” to “avoid divergent regulatory approaches that risk creating an uneven playing field” as both the EU and US consider how to regulate AI and other emerging technologies.
Despite increasing its funding for AI research and innovation in recent years, with a goal of investing €20 billion per year in AI during this decade, spending in the EU still lags behind the US and China.
The business lobby groups also called for the US and EU to coordinate on “a range of China-related concerns”, including “China’s discriminatory data and forced technology transfer policies and other practices that inhibit fair competition”.