Conference in Berlin (June 24-25, 2025)
The German-American Trade and Tech Conference was held on June 24-25, 2025 at the Landesvertretung Baden-Württemberg in Berlin. Entitled “Navigating Global Disruptions: Trade, Technology, and Transatlantic Cooperation,” the conference elevated the discussion of German-American and European-American cooperation to a broader level, by bringing together a variety of perspectives and stakeholders. It also provided an opportunity to deepen relationships among the high-level participants from the workshops that are a part of the GATT-D (2024-2025). Keep an eye out for updates, interviews, and conference recordings.
Pictures from the GATT-C 2025 are available here. The recording of the conference is available on Youtube.
Speakers & Moderators
- Maria Adebahr
- Cyber Ambassador, German Federal Foreign Office
- Aira Azhari
- CEO, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS)
- Silvia Bauermeister
- Head of Politics, Legal and Sustainability, AUMA – Association of the German Trade Fair Industry(AUMA)
- Ansgar Baums
- Senior Advisor, Sinolytics
- Dr. Fabienne Beez
- Head of Representative Office Berlin, DEKRA SE
- Emily Benson
- Head of Strategy at Minerva Technology Futures
- Marco-Alexander Breit
- Designated Director General, Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernization
- Antonia Bruhn
- Senior Manager Public Policy, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Randolf Carr
- Senior Policy Advisor, Munich Security Conference
- Constance Chucholowski
- Digital and Tech Policy Expert, Candid Public Affairs
- Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook
- Executive Vice President, Bertelsmann Foundation
- Mary de Wysocki
- SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer, Cisco
- Jan Dittberner
- Team Lead, German Institute for Standardization (DIN) e.V.
- Yasmin Fahimi
- President of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB)
- Christian Forwick
- Director General for External Economic Policy, German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
- Dr. Elitsa Garnizova
- Founder and Principal Consultant, Trade Policy Hub at LSE Consulting
- Ferdinand Gehringer
- Internal and Cyber Security Officer, Konrad Adenauer Foundation
- Payne Griffin
- Senior Director, FTI Consulting
- Nils Haupt
- Head of Corporate Communications, Hapag-Lloyd AG
- Dr. Kari Heerman
- Incoming Senior Fellow and Director of Trade and Economic Statecraft, Brookings Institution
- Prof. Marina Henke, PhD
- Professor of International Relations, Director, Centre for International Security, Hertie School
- Dr. Judith Hermes
- Director General, European Policy; International Financial Policy, German Federal Ministry of Finance
- Dr. Laura Hirvi
- Public Policy Manager, Meta
- Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut
- Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg
- Rudi Hoogvliet
- Representative of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the Federal Government
- Roy Housemann
- Legislative Director, United Steel Workers
- Dr. Mikko Huotari
- Executive Director, MERICS
- Matthias Klaus
- Expert in the triad of ethical AI, cyber security, and risk analysis, Senior Business Analyst, Capgemini
- Jürgen Klöckner
- Senior Policy Reporter and Head of Pro, Germany, POLITICO
- Azar Koulibaly
- General Manager (Germany) and Associate General Counsel, Microsoft
- Sergey Lagodinsky
- Member of the European Parliament
- Bryan Lanza
- Managing Partner, Mercury Public Affairs
- Lorenz Lehmhaus
- Associate Partner, Gen AI, IBM
- Matthias Lehna
- Director of Business Development and Government Relations, Quantum Systems
- Angela Mans
- Head of Foreign Trade and International Relations, German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)
- Dr. Nathalie Martin-Hübner
- Vice President Governmental Affairs, Robert Bosch GmbH
- Alan Meltzer
- Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Berlin
- Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner
- Executive Director, Aspen Institute Germany
- Cris Monteiro
- Elected Member of the São Paulo City Council (NOVO)
- Dan Mullaney
- Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
- Dr. Katja Muñoz
- Research Fellow, Center for Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Technology, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)
- Dr. Sami Nader
- Director, Institute of Political Science at Saint Joseph University
- Dr. Andreas Nicolin
- Deputy Director General, External Economic Policy, German Federal Ministry for Economic and Energy Affairs (BMWE)
- Vilas Pathikonda
- Economic Advisor, Office of Commissioner Jason E. Kearns, U.S. International Trade Commission
- Dr. Alexandra Paulus
- Research Associate, Co-Head, Research Cluster Cybersecurity and Digital Policy, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
- Lars Purkarthofer
- Director of Public Affairs, UPS
- Trisha Ray
- Associate Director and Resident Fellow, GeoTech Center, Atlantic Council
- H.E. Yadir Salazar Mejía
- Ambassador, Republic of Colombia to Germany
- PD Dr. Frank Sauer
- Head of Research, Metis Institute for Strategy and Foresight (UniBw München)
- Claudia Schmucker
- Head of the Center for Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Technology, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)
- Anna-Lena Schütte
- Deputy Head of Berlin Office, Senior Manager Public Policy, Infineon Technologies AG
- Christoph Seemann
- Head of Division International Economic and Financial Policy, German Federal Foreign Ministry
- Meena Sharma
- Director, Office of Investment Security Policy and International Relations, U.S. Department of Treasury
- Thomas Silberhorn
- Member of the German Bundestag (CDU/CSU)
- Commander Göran Swistek
- Commander, German Federal Ministry of Defense
- Clayton Swope
- Deputy Director, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
- Sascha Tamm
- Head of the Transatlantic Dialogue and Latin America Division, Friedrich Naumann Stiftung
- Shane Tews
- Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
- Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar
- Chair of IT Coalition Steering Group, Distinguished Fellow at GMF Technology, Global Cyber Alliance Board of Directors
- Dr. Joseph Verbovszky
- Research Fellow, Defense AI Observatory, Co-Director, German Wargaming Center (GWC)
- Marie-Christine von Hahn
- Principal Managing Director, BDLI
- Oliver Voß
- Deputy Editorial Director, Tagesspiegel Background for Digitalisation, AI, Cybersecurity and Smart Cities
- Anna Wojtas
- Co-Founder and CEO, Women in Defense Tech
Agenda
A pdf copy of the agenda is available here.
Day 1: June 24, 2025
| 11:00 – 12:15 | Small Lunch Reception and Registration |
| 12:15 – 12:45 | Welcome Remarks Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Germany |
| 12:45 – 13:00 | Opening Keynote Alan Meltzer, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., U.S. Embassy in Berlin |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Panel Discussion 1: Disrupt or Be Disrupted: The Geopolitics of Emerging Tech Maria Adebahr, Cyber Ambassador, German Federal Foreign Office Ansgar Baums, Senior Advisor, Sinolytics Liesyl Franz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Cyberspace Security, U.S. Department of State, virtual Dr. Laura Hirvi, Public Policy Manager, Meta Azar Koulibaly, General Manager and Associate General Counsel, Microsoft Moderated by Oliver Voß, Deputy Head, Tagesspiegel Background Digitalization & AI |
| 14:00 – 14:30 | Coffee Break |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | Spotlight Talk 1: Economic Security: Transatlantic Strategies for Secure and Competitive Economies Meena Sharma, Director, Office of Investment Security Policy and International Relations, U.S. Department of Treasury, virtual Moderator, Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Germany |
| 15:00 – 16:00 | Panel Discussion 2: Technology on the Frontline: What’s Next for Transatlantic Cooperation in the Defense Sector Prof. Marina Henke, PhD, Professor of International Relations, Director, Centre for International Security, Hertie School Payne Griffin, Senior Director, FTI Consulting Dr. Sergey Lagodinsky, Member of the European Parliament, virtual Thomas Silberhorn, Member of the German Bundestag (CDU/CSU) Amb. Heli Tiirmaa-Klaar, Chair of IT Coalition Steering Group, Distinguished Fellow at GMF Technology, Global Cyber Alliance Board of Directors Anna Wojtas, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Women in Defense Tech Moderated by Randolf Carr, Senior Policy Advisor, Munich Security Conference |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Spotlight Talk 2: The Future of the Global Economic Order: Transatlantic Cooperation in the G7 and G20 Dr. Judith Hermes, Director General, European Policy and International Finance Policy, German Federal Ministry of Finance Moderator, Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Germany |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Coffee Break |
| 17:00 – 18:30 | Oxford Style Debate: Will AI Win the Next War? Team 1: While AI is an important tool, industrial capacity, logistical superiority, and the ability or willingness to sustain losses are more important to winning a war. Constance Chucholowski, Digital and Tech Policy Expert, Candid Public Affairs Matthias Klaus, Expert in the Triad of ethical AI, cyber security, and risk analysis, Senior Business Analyst, Capgemini Trisha Ray, Associate Director and Resident Fellow, GeoTech Center, Atlantic Council Dr. Joseph Verbovszky, Research Fellow, Defense AI Observatory, Co-Director, German Wargaming Center (GWC) Team 2: AI is more than just an important tool and is critical for developing smarter strategies and more advanced weapons, thereby being key for winning future wars. Britta Jacob, Government Relations Lead, ARX Robotics Lorenz Lehmhaus, Associate Partner, Gen AI, IBM Matthias Lehna, Director of Business Development and Government Relations, Quantum Solutions PD Dr. Frank Sauer, Head of Research, Metis Institute for Strategy and Foresight (UniBw München) Moderated by Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, Senior Advisor, Program Europe’s Future, Bertelsmann Foundation |
| 18:30 – 18:45 | Closing Remarks Day 1 |
Day 2: June 25, 2025
| 9:30 – 10:00 | Coffee and Registration |
| 10:00 – 10:05 | Welcome Remarks Day 2: Rudi Hoogvliet, Representative of the State of Baden-Württemberg to the Federal Government |
| 10:05 – 10:30 | Spotlight Talk: Workers, Wages, and Global Shifts: What’s Next for Labor? Yasmin Fahimi, President of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | Panel Discussion 3: Trade Wars or Trade Wins? The Future of U.S: – German Economic Relations Dr. Christian Forwick, Director General for External Economic Policy,German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy Roy Housemann, Legislative Director, United Steel Workers Bryan Lanza, Partner, Mercury Public Affairs Dr. Nathalie Martin-Hübner, Vice President Governmental Affairs, Robert Bosch GmbH Dan Mullaney, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Vilas Pathikonda, Economic Advisor, Office of Commissioner Jason E. Kearns, U.S. International Trade Commission Moderator, Jürgen Klöckner, Senior Policy Reporter and Head of Pro, POLITICO |
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Coffee Break |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Breakout Sessions with Audience Input Session 1: Sky High Stakes: The Future of Aerospace and Transport Jan Dittberner, Group Leader, Standardization for Air and Space, DIN e.V. Lars Purkarthofer, Director of Public Affairs, UPS Clayton Swope, DeputyDirector,Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Marie-Christine von Hahn, Principal Managing Director, BDLI Open Chair Moderated by Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Germany Session 2: Hacking the Future: Cybersecurity in a Multipolar World Dr. Fabienne Beez, Head of Representative Office Berlin, DEKRA SE Antonia Bruhn, Senior Manager Public Policy, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Ferdinand Gehringer, Internal and Cyber Security Officer, Konrad Adenauer Foundation Dr. Alexandra Paulus, Research Associate, Co-Head, Research Cluster Cybersecurity and Digital Policy, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) Shane Tews, Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute Moderated by Katja Muñoz, Research Fellow, Center for Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Technology, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) Open Chair Session 3: Economic Security, Sovereignty, and Competitiveness: Aligning the Economic Security Tool Kit Silvia Bauermeister, Head of Politics, Legal and Sustainability, AUMA – Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA) Dr. Elitsa Garnizova, Principal Consultant, Trade Policy Hub at LSE Consulting Dr. Kari Heerman, Economist Angela Mans, Head of Foreign Trade, German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) Dr. Andreas Nicolin, Deputy Director General, External Economic Policy, German Federal Ministry for Economic and Energy Affairs (BMWE) Anna-Lena Schütte, Deputy Head of Berlin Office, Senior Manager Public Policy, Infineon Technologies AG Moderated by Dr. Claudia Schmucker, Head of the Center for Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, and Technology, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 – 14:30 | Spotlight Talk: Next Germany: Transatlantic Relations in the Age of AI and Innovation Marco-Alexander Breit, designated Director General, Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernization |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Panel Discussion 4: The Future of Global Economic Governance: Transatlantic-Global South Cooperation Bernd Lange, Member of the European Parliament (SPD), Chair of the Committee on International Trade and Member of the Delegation for Relations with the Countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)(virtual) Aira Azhari, CEO, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) Cris Monteiro, Elected Member of the São Paulo City Council (NOVO) H.E. Ambassador Yadir Salaza Mejía, Ambassador of Colombia in Germany Dr. Sami Nader, Director of the Institute of Political Science, Saint Joseph University Christoph Seemann, Head of Division International Economic and Financial Policy, German Federal Foreign Ministry Moderated by Sascha Tamm, Head of the Transatlantic Dialogue and Latin America Division at the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Coffee Break |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | Panel Discussion 5: The Economic Security of Oceans: Sea Lanes, Chokepoints, Supply Chains and Critical Infrastructure Emily Benson, Head of Strategy, Minerva Technology Futures Mary de Wysocki, SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer, CISCO Nils Haupt, Head of Corporate Communications, Hapag-Lloyd AG Dr. Mikko Huotari, Executive Director, MERICS Commander Göran Swistek, Commander, German Federal Ministry of Defense |
| 17:00 – 17:15 | Closing Remarks |
