Description: European tech chief, Hanna Virkunnen, introduced a regulatory and legislative package that forbids US tech companies such as Microsoft and Google from entering cloud tenders. She also stated that European tech companies should forward plans to develop large – scale data centers in EU’s latest push to decouple from US tech dependence. She also confirmed that EU’s investment portfolio in regard to semiconductors, chips and AI technology would significantly increase, however, immediate dependence on chip manufacturers such as Nvidia would remain an issue in the mid to long – term. Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney also announced the country’s new AI development national strategy that primarily focused on large -scale AI integration into business and public services, with increased literacy programs and education initiatives. Carney further stated that Canada aimed to achieve technological sovereignty by developing large – scale data centers and keeping AI talent in the domestic market.
Impact: Europe’s and Canada’s push for technological independence is likely driven by the unsettling of their separate partnerships with the US and the importance of AI technology in the modern geoeconomic global contest. The initiatives, although largely positive, would be difficult to achieve in the mid – term since both Europe and Canada have a pronounced dependence on US high technology chips and semiconductors. Europe and Canada are likely to increase bilateral cooperation on crucial technology challenges in the short to mid – term period while also potentially courting Chinese tech companies. Carney’s rapprochement to China was heavily criticized by the US with the Canadian PM shrugging off US criticism by stating that diversifying strategic partners was in Canada’s national interests. This would likely result in heavy conditioning in the upcoming trilateral trade talks with the US and Mexico, but it would benefit Canada in relation to cooperating with Europe and China.