WASHINGTON – Top-level officials from the U.S. and European Union will meet Wednesday to discuss several major economic and technological challenges facing the trans-Atlantic alliance as China’s ambitions increasingly shape global markets.

At the U.S. – EU Trade and Technology Council’s inaugural meeting, which will take place in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai, the Biden administration will participate.

Biden’s team meets with Valdis and Margrethe Dombrovski, executive vice presidents of European Commission.

They will meet with European Commission Executive Vice Presidents Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovski to discuss trade issues, simplify regulatory procedures, and create “rules for the road” that can be used by emerging technology on both sides.

It is clear that the U.S., European Union and other countries are eager to work together on tech and trade issues. This signals Western ambitions of being more competitive with China. Washington and Brussels both accuse Beijing for unfair trade practices ranging from theft of intellectual property to dumping.

According to a Biden Administration official who spoke anonymously in order not to identify a specific government, the United States and Europe have an interest in making sure that other countries follow these rules.

The official said the Trade and Technology Council will focus on cooperation in the following areas:

• Technology standards
• Supply chain security
• Climate and green energy
• IT security and competitiveness
• Data governance
• Export controls
• Investment screening
• Global trade challenges

Wednesday’s U.S.-EU meeting in Pittsburgh comes as the Biden administration pivots from costly interventions in the Middle East and Central Asia – like America’s 20-year military mission in Afghanistan – to emerging threats posed by Russia and China.

Biden met last week with leaders from Australia, India, and Japan to discuss common concerns regarding China’s increasing military and economic power. They also talked about progress in Covid-19 vaccinations, technology cooperation and an Indo-Pacific free from repressive China as it grows stronger.

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

Biden alongside Prime Ministers Scott Morrison of Australia and Boris Johnson of the U.K. announced a new trilateral security partnership aimed at strengthening and stabilizing the South Pacific-Indian Ocean region.

The deal will see the U.S., U.K., and Australia assist Canberra with the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. This will enable Australia’s navy counter-attack Chinese-powered vessels.

A senior administration official spoke under oath earlier in the month. “This will enable Australia’s submarines to deploy for longer periods of time, they are quieter, more capable, and they will help us sustain and improve deterrence throughout the Indo-Pacific.”

The official said that the Indo-Pacific region has a number of situations where the capabilities are greater. The official stated that this allows Australia “to play at an even higher level” and “to augment American capabilities.”

Beijing called the arms and security deal “extremely reckless”

The U.S. and U.K. have exported highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology from the United States to Australia, proving once more that nuclear exports are being used as geopolitical games and using double standards. This is extremely irresponsible,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said when asked about the trilateral security pact earlier in the month.

He added that “seeking out a close-knit clique goes against the trend of times and the aspirations for countries in this region, which finds little support and leads nowhere.”

Biden, who spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month, has previously said that his approach to China would be different from his predecessor’s in that he would work more closely with allies in order to push back against Beijing.

The president’s latest move has angered America’s oldest ally. The security alliance, referred to as AUKUS, triggered a diplomatic row with Paris since the deal effectively scrapped a longstanding arms deal between Australia and France.

Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron last week in an effort to ease tensions, and the two leaders agreed to meet in Europe at the end of October. During the call, Macron also agreed to send France’s ambassador to the United States, Philippe Etienne, back to Washington.