US-EU Economic Binding Within a Strategic Triangle With China

Abstract

As China-US rivalry has increased, questions of whether we have entered a second Cold War loom large. In this paper, I contribute to this debate by exploring the role of the EU in US-China economic competition. I find that the concept of a strategic triangle drawn from the first Cold War literature is a useful conceptual tool to explain aspects of economic diplomacy between the US and EU during the first Trump and Biden administrations. Focusing on US-EU-Japan trilateral trade cooperation and the EU-US Trade and Technology Council, I argue that these novel forums are a form of binding, which seek to bring the EU and US closer. This analytical approach captures the critical role of China as a third point in an economic strategic triangle with the US and EU, showing how binding efforts were driven by US-China economic rivalry and shared EU and US concerns about Chinese trade practices and its technological rise. Using thematic analysis of official documents, I show that the US-EU binding occurred through increased alignment on collective stances and actions in areas of trade norms and practices, and collaboration in the development and governance of emerging technologies.