Consider the following statements :
1. Statement-I : Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the Trade and Technology Council'.
2. Statement-II: The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
A
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
B
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
C
Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
D
Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Correct Answer: Option C
Explanation
1. Statement-I: The United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) did indeed launch the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in June 2021. This statement is factually correct.
2. Statement-II: The stated objectives of the TTC focus on coordinating approaches on key global trade, economic, and technology issues, expanding bilateral trade and investment, avoiding new technical barriers, and cooperating on areas like AI, supply chains, and digital standards, based on shared values. The claim that the primary goal is to bring technological progress and physical productivity 'under their control' is a strong interpretation and does not accurately reflect the officially stated aims of cooperation and standard-setting. Therefore, Statement-II is incorrect.
3. Since Statement-I is correct and Statement-II is incorrect, option (C) is the correct choice.