The parties met outside Paris as part of the “Trade and Technology Council” formed last year to counter China’s growing influence in the technology sector, among other things.
But European and American officials have focused most of their efforts on the difficulties that have arisen from Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.
In a statement, the council noted that so far its work has been effective in preventing the export of advanced aerospace technology and online censorship to undermine Russia’s military efforts.
The forum also focuses on chip making and securing key materials for the technology sector such as rare earths, which puts it in a collision with China.
Regarding rare earth magnets, which play a major role in products such as electric vehicles, the closing statement states: “Companies from the EU and US do not occupy a prominent position in the supply chain… Almost all stages of production are concentrated in China. ”
The Forum is committed to providing the greatest possible support to the electronic circuit manufacturing sector.
The forum also announced an “early warning system” for any disruption in the supply of semiconductors used in the manufacture of electronic circuits, in hopes of avoiding excessive competition between Western powers.
The chip manufacturing sector is suffering from a shortage of chip-making components, associated with a surge in global demand for electronic products as the pandemic disrupts supply chains.
In this regard, a US official told AFP on condition of anonymity: “The United States has already implemented its own early warning system in 2021 that monitors supply chains in Southeast Asia, and this has helped great for us to succeed in preparing for a possible supply disruption. ) several times earlier this year. He pointed out that both sides were preparing for supply disruptions as a result of lockdown measures imposed by China, the only major economic power still pursuing a “zero Covid injury” approach.
The European Union and the US will announce joint action to combat disinformation and piracy, particularly from the Russian side, including the development of cybersecurity guidelines for small and medium-sized companies and the development of a task force on trusted technologies. provider, ”the official said. “This is not a problem in Europe, but a global problem,” he said.
Source: Al Akhbar
