Third EU-US Ministerial Trade and Labour Dialogue meeting discusses inclusiveness in the green transition and future cooperation

The meeting took place on the margins of the sixth ministerial meeting of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) hosted by the EU in Leuven, Belgium, and was chaired by European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and US Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai.

Building on previous TALD discussions and the workshop with EU and US employer and labour organisations that took place on 30 January 2024 in the framework of the Transatlantic Initiative on Sustainable Trade (TIST), the discussion focused on how to ensure that the transition of our economies to climate-neutrality occurs in a successful, just and inclusive way, as well as on the future of the TALD.

The TALD participants exchanged on actions and policies to support quality employment and facilitate job-to-job transitions. They also discussed the importance of anticipating changes and providing targeted support to those affected by the green transition. Participants agreed that social dialogue between organisations representing employers and workers has a crucial role to play in adapting to changing economic and social circumstances, promoting fairness and social justice and enhancing competitiveness.

Participants also took stock and discussed the future of the TALD. Referring to previous TALD discussions on forced labour and the joint recommendations of EU and US labour and businesses stakeholders of May 2023, the EU and the US reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate to eliminate forced labour from global supply chains and expressed the intention to exchange information and share best practices regarding the implementation of their forced labour policies in accordance with their respective laws and practices, including with regard to research and risk assessment. Participants also expressed appreciation for the TALD discussions and the TIST workshop and stakeholder event that were organised on 30 and 31 January 2024. They agreed on the importance of the TALD discussions, calling for these to continue under the next EU and US administrations.

For more information

EU-US social partners' joint recommendations on combatting forced labour (May 2023)

Inaugural technical TALD meeting

First Ministerial TALD meeting

Second Ministerial TALD meeting