Commerce Secretary: US, Europe Must Join Forces to Curb China’s Progress

The U.S. will assemble allies, particularly those in Europe, to compel the deceleration of China’s innovation, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Tuesday (Sept. 28), according to a CNBC report.

“America is most effective when we work with our allies,” Raimondo said. “If we really want to slow down China’s rate of innovation, we need to work with Europe.”

“They’re ripping off our IP, they are not playing by the rules,” Raimondo added. “It’s not a level playing field. And so we need to hold their feet to the fire to make sure that they do that,” she said, adding that Beijing is “not living up to the agreements that they made.”

Raimondo’s assertions come a day before she, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will represent the Biden administration at the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council in Pittsburgh. The meeting is aimed at addressing trade disputes, simplifying regulatory guidelines and devising a road map for forthcoming technologies.

Raimondo’s comments come a few weeks after the U.S. Commerce Department announced the formation of an artificial intelligence (AI) committee, which would work alongside the National AI Advisory Committee (NAIAC) in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in advising the president and federal departments about relevant issues.

See more: Commerce Department Launches AI Board, Seeks Candidates

“AI presents an enormous opportunity to tackle the biggest issues of our time, strengthen our technological competitiveness and be an engine for growth in nearly every sector of the economy,” Raimondo said then.

Experts from an extensive range of AI domains are being recruited to comprise the NAIAC, including accomplished leaders from “across academia, industry, nonprofits and civil society and federal laboratories.” The goal is to have qualified authorities on the committee who can offer counsel and insight on AI concerning science and tech research, ethics, standards, education, security and more.

President Biden selected Raimondo, the former Rhode Island governor, to serve as commerce chief in January.

Related news: Rhode Island Governor Tapped As Biden’s Commerce Secretary

Her role involves leading the department in setting trade policy and furthering U.S. opportunities for growth. In addition, Raimondo is tasked with managing the country’s relationship with China and the World Trade Organization.

Biden, who opposes Chinese tariffs, has said he will breathe new life into U.S. relationships worldwide and will advance the Buy American Act, which will use $400 billion to buy U.S.-made goods and invest $300 billion in new research and development from technology firms.