Antitrust leaders from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the European Commission convened in Washington, D.C., this week for the fourth assembly of the U.S.-EU Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue (TCPD). The TCPD serves as a platform to discuss both current and emerging challenges and threats to fair competition in the digital economy.
According to an FTC press release, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and FTC Chair Lina Khan represented the United States. They were accompanied by European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager. The meeting centered on key issues faced by these agencies, including artificial intelligence and merger control, market dynamics, and how to foster and maintain fair competition in the technology sector.
Khan stated in the press release that "as businesses move at breakneck speed to build and monetize AI and algorithmic decision-making tools, engaging with our international partners and sharing best practices will be especially critical." She further added that "the Joint Technology Dialogue provides U.S. agencies and the European Commission a key opportunity to discuss emerging threats in a rapidly evolving digital economy."
Kanter echoed Khan's sentiments in his statement. He said, "The growth of data monopolies and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence expand the competitive threats we face from dominant digital gatekeepers." He also highlighted the importance of international cooperation: "Exchanging best practices with our global counterparts helps us to more effectively serve the American people, and we deeply appreciate the European Commission's continued engagement through the TCPD."
Vestager noted in the press release that during this recent TCPD meeting, both FTC and European Commission reinforced their collaboration in competition policy enforcement. She said that "the fast-moving technology sector raises global challenges such as regarding artificial intelligence and cloud computing more broadly. It is essential to anticipate and address such challenges through close cooperation, leveraging our respective experiences for the benefit of consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic."
According to a European Commission press release, the European Commission and the United States initiated the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in June 2021. This council was established to coordinate approaches to tackle global trade, economic, and technology challenges as well as to fortify trade and economic relations. In December 2021, they further solidified their cooperation by establishing the TCPD to develop strategies and enhance collaboration on competition policy enforcement in the technology sector.
