- June 09, 2026
- ; 11:00
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- June 10, 2026
- ; 17:30
As geopolitical tensions and technological competition continue to reshape the global economic order, the transatlantic relationship is entering a period of profound transformation: On June 9-10, 2026, the Aspen Institute Germany, together with the State Representation of Baden-Württemberg, convened the fourth German-American Trade and Tech Conference (GATT-C) in Berlin to address these challenges head-on. Under the title “Navigating Strategic Rivalries: Transatlantic Trade and Tech in an Age of Competition,” more than 500 decision makers from politics, business, and civil society gathered to discuss the future of the transatlantic economic relationship, in-person and online.
Across two days of panels, debates, and breakout sessions, participants examined some of the most pressing issues in transatlantic relations: the impact of tariffs and industrial subsidies, approaches to export controls and supply chain resilience, and the strategic positioning of Europe and the United States vis-a-vis China and other competitors. An annual highlight, this year’s Oxford-style debate focused on digital sovereignty, and explored whether resilience is better achieved through strategic autonomy or through deeper international cooperation. While a majority of viewers initially voted for “deeper international cooperation” in the pre-debate poll, some changed their minds during the course of the discussion. By the end, a majority of approximately two-thirds supported “digital sovereignty” as the path toward greater digital resilience.
The result mirrored a tension that surfaced repeatedly across the conference: an enduring commitment to the transatlantic partnership alongside a sharpening instinct for self-reliance. The conference also addressed the governance of artificial intelligence, with perspectives from Europe, the United States, and the Global South, and explored the future of transatlantic health and defense cooperation. A high-level exchange between Metin Hakverdi, Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation, German Federal Foreign Office, and Bryant Trick, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, underlined the continued resilience of the transatlantic relationship and the value of dialogue in strengthening the historical ties between the United States and Germany.
Despite the challenges ahead, the GATT-C reaffirmed that the transatlantic relationship remains indispensable – and that the political will to navigate its tensions through dialogue, rather than drift, is very much alive. Photos of the conference are available here, and a full recording will be made available on YouTube later this summer.
