Technology Standards as Foreign Policy

Setting International Standards for Emerging Technologies

Introduction by Dr. Sayuri Romei

The rapid evolution of emerging technologies, ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) and next-generation telecommunications to quantum computing, is reshaping not only global markets but also the foundations of geopolitical power. At the center of this transformation lies a less visible, yet decisive driver: international standards-setting. Technical standards, often perceived as neutral or purely technical, are in fact powerful instruments that determine market access, shape innovation pathways, and embed societal values into the infrastructure of the digital world. Reflecting the growing importance of this issue, GMF’s Indo-Pacific program has compiled an edited volume to examine how like-minded partners can better coordinate in this space. As China expands its influence across international standards bodies, leveraging state- backed industrial policy and coordinated participation, the urgency of the need for these partners to respond collectively has become increasingly clear. 

This volume brings together perspectives on how the United States, Japan, and Europe can enhance coordination in setting international standards for emerging technologies. Together, these partners possess unparalleled strengths in innovation, market size, and institutional capacity. Yet differences in regulatory philosophy, industrial organization, and approaches to public-private collaboration have at times limited their collective effectiveness. Addressing these gaps is essential not only to maintain competitiveness, but also to ensure that the global technological ecosystem reflects shared commitments to openness, transparency, and democratic governance.

The contributions in this volume highlight both the risks of fragmentation and the opportunities for alignment. The first contribution, by Shotaro Nagino, underscores that international standardization has become a frontline issue in economic security, particularly as China’s growing role in standard-setting organizations enables it to shape standards in ways that advantage its firms and its governance model. Nagino argues that the United States, Japan, and Europe must work together to secure supply chains, coordinate on technical standards, and, when necessary, develop mechanisms to reject or counter standards that undermine their economic and security interests.

The second analysis, by Gautam Kamath, examines the broader geopolitical competition over standards in emerging technologies, emphasizing that technical standards function as the “invisible glue” of the global digital economy. The author highlights contrasting approaches across regions (China’s coordinated state- industry model, Europe’s regulatory leadership, and the more market-driven systems of the United States and Japan) and calls for deeper trilateral cooperation to align incentives, strengthen institutional coordination, and prevent technological fragmentation.

The final contribution to the volume, by Lindsay Gorman and Alexandra Pugh, illustrates how standard- setting, innovation, and economic security are increasingly intertwined across emerging technologies, particularly in the critical domain of quantum systems. It shows that while the United States, Japan, and Europe are each investing heavily in quantum research and commercialization, their ability to maintain leadership will depend on closer collaboration in areas such as defense innovation, supply chain resilience, and the development of shared standards. At the same time, the authors highlight the tension between growing ambitions for technological self-reliance and the clear benefits of partnership, suggesting that carefully targeted cooperation can reconcile these dynamics.

Taken together, these analyses point to a common conclusion: Standard-setting is no longer a technical afterthought, but a central pillar of strategic competition and cooperation. To succeed, the United States, Japan, and Europe must move beyond ad hoc coordination toward a more deliberate and sustained approach. This includes engaging the private sector more effectively, aligning regulatory and industrial policies, investing in the next generation of standards experts, and building coalitions with partners beyond the transatlantic and Indo-Pacific spaces. In doing so, they can help ensure that the rules governing emerging technologies support innovation, strengthen economic security, and reflect the values that underpin open and democratic societies.

Sayuri Romei is the senior fellow for Japan at GMF’s Indo-Pacific program. She leads work on Japan and heads the Japan Trilateral Forum and the Young Strategists Forum. Her research focuses on US-Japan- Europe relations and security issues in the Indo-Pacific.