Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission hold Fourth U.S.-EU Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Chair Lina M. Khan of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager of the European Commission met today in Washington, D.C., for the fourth meeting of the U.S.-EU Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue (TCPD). The principals and senior staff met to continue to cooperate in ensuring and promoting fair competition in the digital economy.   

“The growth of data monopolies and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence expand the competitive threats we face from dominant digital gatekeepers,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter. “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.”

“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,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. “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.”

“With today’s meeting, we have further strengthened our cooperation in competition policy and enforcement in the technology area,” said European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager. “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.”

The discussion centered on critical issues the agencies are facing, including common challenges related to rapidly evolving technologies in the digital sector such as artificial intelligence and the importance of keeping merger control fit for purpose in a digitalized economy. The agencies also exchanged views on evolving market dynamics in the digital sector and reiterated the importance of continuing their discussions within the framework of the TCPD with a goal of ensuring and promoting fair competition in the technology sector.

On Dec. 7, 2021, the Justice Department, FTC and European Commission launched the TCPD to further boost transatlantic cooperation on competition policy and enforcement in the digital sector in light of the common challenges facing the three authorities. Upon its launch, the Commission and U.S. competition agencies issued a statement regarding the TCPD and reaffirming their longstanding tradition of close cooperation on competition matters.

On June 15, 2021, President Biden and the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen launched the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The TTC serves as a forum for the United States and European Union to coordinate approaches to key global trade, economic and technology issues and to deepen transatlantic trade and economic relations based on shared democratic values.

The Justice Department, FTC and European Commission have a longstanding tradition of close cooperation in antitrust enforcement and policy, beginning even before the formal 1991 cooperation agreement between the European Commission and United States regarding the application of their competition laws.