Interview to Winand Quaedvlieg, Vice President of the Employers Group

EU-US trade relations

We can certainly expect a new dialogue based on respect from the new Biden administration.

This political change is very significant and also very positive. And Mr Biden and his team know Europe well and also understand the value of having allies. I think we can expect a more structured and more predictable dialogue than we had over the last few years. At the same time, it will not be a walk in the park as President Biden is under huge pressure both at home and abroad. Geopolitics now plays a major role in trade, and labour and environmental issues also have an impact.

What progress do you expect to see in EU-US trade relations?

Firstly, there is the issue of digital technology. There are divergences here, but there are also clear common interests. Both the US and the EU can see that the tech giants have huge market power and preferential tax treatment. So there is a basis on which to move forward. The second main issue is environmental goods and standards. The Commission has published a transatlantic green agenda and the US has rejoined the Paris Agreement, creating further common ground. One specific area where I think the EU and the US should work together is carbon border adjustment.

How important is the China factor in EU-US trade relations?

Everything that is happening now in Brussels is in some way related to the US-China-EU triangle. Everything. China's position in the WTO is key. There are many problems: for example, disciplining state-owned companies, reciprocity and intellectual property. The US and the EU do not completely agree on the approach. On the other hand, both have value-based democratic markets. And I think that, on the basis of those values, the US and the EU can also develop a common approach to dealing with China.