US, EU agree company stance on China at alternate, tech assembly

By Philip Blenkinsop

LULEA, Sweden (Reuters) – The usa and the European Union pledged on Wednesday to affix forces to counter China’s non-market financial practices and disinformation, critically over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The 2 partners sought at their Substitute and Know-how Council in Sweden to search out classic pursuits, fair like over man made intelligence and future alternate in environmentally-friendly items, but China proved a pervasive topic.

They said in a joint observation at the pause of a fourth ministerial TTC assembly that they bask in been gripping to handle non-market practices collectively and multilaterally.

They highlighted China’s policies in the medical gadgets sector and their detrimental crash on EU and U.S. workers, saying they bask in been “exploring likely coordinated actions”. China faces criticism that it has closed its medical gadgets market to non-Chinese language producers and discriminates against a long way flung places producers in public tenders.

The observation said the EU and the US bask in been deeply concerned with a long way flung places records manipulation, interference and disinformation.

It said Russian records surrounding its invasion of Ukraine and China’s “amplification of Russian disinformation narratives” bask in been stark examples of the dangers.

Brussels says it considers China a partner in some fields, an financial competitor and a strategic rival. The European Union plans to recalibrate its China policy, recognising coordination with a more hawkish United States is needed.

U.S. Secretary of Narrate Antony Blinken said the EU’s and the US’ views of China had more and more converged, noting neither was once procuring for confrontation.

“None of us are procuring for decoupling. On the contrary, all of us have the advantage of alternate and investment with China. But as a replace of decoupling, we are eager on de-risking and you will furthermore fair bask in heard the same language coming from leaders on each and every facet of the Atlantic,” he told a press conference.

The 2 sides said they’d look into action to make stronger civil society and truth-checking organisations in third international locations, notably in Africa and Latin The usa, where they said the unhealthy affect of disinformation may per chance possibly well furthermore be viewed.

They also said they bask in been dedicated to working with the G7 to coordinate action to counteract acts of financial coercion, which would come with alternate restrictions the EU says China has imposed on EU member Lithuania.