UPSC Prelims 2023 Q87: Current Affairs – International Relations & Treaties
Consider the following statements:
Statement - I:
Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the
'Trade and Technology Council'.
Statement - II:
The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to bring technological progress and
physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- (a) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is the correct explanation for Statement - I
- (b) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is not the correct explanation for Statement - I
- (c) Statement - I is correct but Statement - II is incorrect
- (d) Statement - I is incorrect but Statement - II is correct
Answer: (c) Statement - I is correct but Statement - II is incorrect
Explanation
EU–US Trade and Technology Council (TTC)
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Launched | June 2021, at the EU–US summit in Brussels; first meeting in Pittsburgh, September 2021 |
| Purpose | Coordinate on trade and technology based on shared democratic values |
| Work areas | Tech standards, AI, semiconductors and supply chains, export controls, investment screening, climate tech |
| India's version | India–EU TTC set up in 2022 (EU's second TTC) |
Statement I — correct.
Statement II — incorrect. The TTC does not claim to bring technological progress and physical productivity 'under their control'. Its stated aim is cooperation, common standards and resilient supply chains.
Answer: (c) Statement - I is correct but Statement - II is incorrect.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement II is false, so it cannot explain Statement I.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement II is false; the TTC aims at cooperation and standards, not control of productivity.
- (c) CORRECT. The TTC was launched in 2021, but its aim is cooperation, not controlling technological progress.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement I is true; the EU and US launched the TTC in June 2021.
Key point
EU–US TTC (2021) coordinates trade and tech policy (AI, chips, standards); India–EU TTC followed in 2022.
Remember
The EU–US TTC (2021) is for trade and tech cooperation, not control.
Common mistakes
- Accepting a loaded phrase like 'under their control' as a stated aim.
- Not knowing that India has its own TTC with the EU (2022).
- Confusing the TTC with the Quad or IPEF.
Exam tip
Statements claiming 'control' or 'dominance' as an official goal are almost always false. Official texts use 'cooperation'.
Sources
- European Commission — EU-US Trade and Technology Council
- Ministry of External Affairs — India-EU Trade and Technology Council (2022)