US and EU: Transatlantic cooperation has benefited consumers – don’t undermine it for short-term tactical gains
BRUSSELS, BE and WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Consumer Choice Center (CCC), an international consumer advocacy group with staff members on both sides of the Atlantic, published a introduction à la politique focused on elevating and advancing EU-US relations in an era of uncertainty.
Dans “A Consumer-Focused Alternative: Reshoring Atlanticism in the Age of Uncertainty,” the Consumer Choice Center outlines key cooperation opportunities that would strengthen the European and American economies, enhance innovation potential, and benefit consumers.
“At this moment of upheaval, and as liberty-minded Europeans and Americans, we urge policymakers to adopt a long-term perspective and resist the temptation to undermine transatlantic cooperation for short-term tactical gains. We call on industry representatives, political leaders, and policy experts to move beyond inflammatory rhetoric, and anti-free trade measures; instead, foster constructive dialogue that strengthens our shared economic and security interests, " writes Consumer Choice Center.
Here are the CCC’s recommendations to boost potential opportunities for cooperation between the American and European economies:
- Énergie
- Buy American, not Russian gas
- Streamline LNG terminals and energy import projects
- Increase collaboration on energy innovation and technology transfer
- Minerals
- Accelerate alignment under the US-EU critical minerals agreement
- Align on joint investment in mining and refining à l'échelle mondiale
- Extend mineral trade opportunities with Canada
- Accord vert
- Review the scope of Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive – help European and American economies and consumers
- Defense
- Commit to further raises in defense spending
- Incorporate mutual private actors into national defense.
- Continue the format of the EU-US cyber-dialogue
- Numérique
- Make the most of cutting red tape for innovators – align goals
- Ensure transatlantic independence from high-risk vendors
- Cooperate and complement, not compete and bicker on AI – align on regulatory standards
- Coordinate digital development projects in the Global South
- Align on intellectual property – unite to protect European and American innovators globally
- Agriculture
- Ensure mutual recognition of regulatory standards
- Analyze and evaluate subsidy schemes to avoid market distortions.
- Restart negotiations on a comprehensive trade agreement
- Extend red tape-cutting & simplification efforts to agriculture
The prospect of weakening transatlantic trust in politics, economics, and defense in favor of closer cooperation with illiberal, authoritarian regimes is deeply concerning—not only for policymakers and industry leaders but also for consumers and citizens in the EU and US.
"Most importantly, such cooperation is needed more than ever in a world of great power struggle where China and Russia seek to rewrite the rules of the international game for their own gain,” concludes the Consumer Choice Center.
The Consumer Choice Center believes that the US and the EU should strive to complement, not compete with each other, at the expense of our citizens, consumers, political and security ties, and the future.
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Le CCC représente les consommateurs dans plus de 100 pays à travers le monde. Nous surveillons de près les tendances réglementaires à Ottawa, Washington, Bruxelles, Genève, Lima, Brasilia et d'autres points chauds de la réglementation et informons et incitons les consommateurs à se battre pour #ConsumerChoice. En savoir plus sur consumerchoicecenter.org.
