WASHINGTON – Senior US and European Union officials will meet on Wednesday to discuss several major economic and technological challenges facing the transatlantic alliance as China’s ambitions increasingly shape global markets.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai will represent the Biden government at the first US-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Biden’s team will meet with Executive Vice-Presidents of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovski.

The group aims to resolve trade disputes, streamline regulatory processes and develop “driving rules” for new technologies on both sides of the Atlantic.

The urgency in the US and the European Union to work together on trade and technology signals Western ambitions to compete more effectively with China. Washington and Brussels have accused Beijing of unfair trade practices ranging from theft of intellectual property to dumping.

“Europe and the United States have a common interest in ensuring that others abide by these traffic rules,” said a senior Biden government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details before the meeting, without a name to be called special government.

The official said the trade and technology council will focus on working together in the following areas:

• Technology standards
• Supply chain security
• Climate and green energy
• IT security and competitiveness
• Data office
• Export controls
• Investment screening
• Challenges in global trade

Wednesday’s meeting comes as the Biden administration shifts from costly interventions in the Middle East and Central Asia – like America’s 20-year military mission in Afghanistan – to new threats from Russia and China.

Last week, Biden met in person with leaders of Australia, India and Japan at the White House to discuss common concerns about China’s growing military and economic influence. Leaders also discussed advances in Covid-19 vaccines, technology collaboration, and a free and open Indo-Pacific as China becomes more confident in the region.

The meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad – as the grouping of the four major democracies is called – took place just a week after Biden announced a new security pact with the UK and Australia, a move that angered Beijing.

Biden, along with Australian Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and British Boris Johnson, announced a new trilateral security partnership aimed at strengthening and stabilizing the South Pacific-Indian Ocean region.

As part of the deal, the US and UK will assist Canberra in acquiring nuclear submarines, which will enable the Australian Navy to aid against Chinese nuclear ships in the region.

“This gives Australia the chance that its submarines can basically be used longer, they are quieter, they are much more powerful, they will allow us to maintain and improve deterrence in the Indo-Pacific,” a senior administrator under spoke on condition of anonymity, said earlier this month.

“What we are seeing in the Indo-Pacific region is a range of circumstances where the skills are more advanced,” the official added. “This allows Australia to play at a much higher level and expand American skills.”

Beijing has blown the security pact and arms deal, calling it “extremely irresponsible”.

“The export of highly sensitive submarine nuclear technology to Australia by the USA and Great Britain proves once again that they use nuclear exports as an instrument for geopolitical games and that they measure it with double standards. It is extremely irresponsible, ”said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian asked about the trilateral security pact earlier in the month.

“The search for a closed and exclusive clique goes against the trend of the times and the aspirations of the countries in the region that find no support and go nowhere,” he added.

Biden, who spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month, previously said his approach to China would differ from that of his predecessor in that he would work more closely with allies to push Beijing back.

However, the president’s latest move angered America’s oldest allies. The security alliance known as AUKUS sparked a diplomatic dispute with Paris because the agreement effectively canceled a longstanding arms deal between Australia and France.

Biden spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron last week to ease tension and the two leaders agreed to meet in Europe in late October. During the call, Macron also agreed to send France’s ambassador to the United States, Philippe Etienne, back to Washington.