On December 13, 2024, the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) signed a protocol to amend and extend the U.S.-PRC Science and Technology Agreement (STA) for an additional five years. This agreement, first established to foster bilateral scientific cooperation, has been updated to include new provisions that enhance safeguards while promoting scientific advancement between the two nations.
Key Updates to the Agreement
The modernized STA reinforces intellectual property protections, introduces new safeguards to ensure the safety and security of researchers, and strengthens transparency and data reciprocity between the two countries. Notably, the updated agreement will ensure that any federal science and technology cooperation under the STA will benefit the United States while minimizing risks to national security.
The amended STA, which applies exclusively to basic research, explicitly excludes the facilitation of critical and emerging technologies. This distinction ensures that the agreement aligns with U.S. priorities in protecting sensitive technologies while fostering collaboration in non-sensitive areas of scientific inquiry.
Managing Strategic Competition
This updated version of the STA is part of the U.S. strategy to responsibly manage its strategic competition with China. It follows extensive consultations within the U.S. Government and months of negotiation with the PRC. By enhancing the protections within the framework of the agreement, the United States aims to advance scientific collaboration while safeguarding its national interests.
The extension of the STA for another five years underscores the importance of scientific engagement between the two countries, with the recognition that cooperation in certain fields can bring mutual benefits while addressing national security concerns.