The USA and the EU

News about the United States of America and the European Union. The European Union and the United States of America established diplomatic relations as early as 1953, but it was only in November 1990 that the cooperation was formalised for the first time with the Transatlantic Declaration. Since December 1995, the New Transatlantic Agenda (NTA) has provided the foundation for the relationship. The ambitious agenda of cooperation between the EU and the US is taken forward via constant, intensive dialogue. This dialogue takes place at various levels, from the annual summit meetings between EU and US leaders to technical work at expert level. Within the framework of the NTA and in line with the Transatlantic Economic Partnership (TEP)launched in 1998, the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) was created in 2007 to take forward efforts to boost the transatlantic economy. Under the TEC umbrella, a High-Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth was established by the 2011 EU-US Summit, tasked to identify policies and measures to increase EU-US trade and investment to support job creation, economic growth, and international competitiveness. The final report with conclusions and recommendations from the Working Group was produced on 12 February 2013. On 14 June, the Council of the European Union adopted negotiating directives for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the US. Together, the EU and the USA have the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship in the world, roughly 31% of the world trade and over 49% of the world GDP. In keeping with the evolving political and legal personality of the EU, there is active cooperation across a host of sectors, such as cooperation in justice and home affairs, energy and energy security, environment, science & technology, and education & training.

Anti-dumping: What is Zeroing? - guide — 06 February 2012, 21:16 CET

In 2004 and 2007, the EU launched WTO disputes against the US for the use of a methodology called "zeroing" in the calculation of anti-dumping duty rates. The EU's initiative was followed by a number of countries including Brazil, China, Ecuador, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam who lodged similar cases. The WTO Appellate Body has consistently condemned the practice of zeroing over the past decade as unfair. The US now finally committed itself to comply with the main elements of the WTO ruling, by removing zeroing in all ongoing and future cases.

New EU-US agreement on the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data - guide — 21 November 2011, 15:16 CET

The European Commission has initialled an agreement with the US that, if endorsed by the Council and the European Parliament, would replace the existing agreement from 2007 that currently regulates the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) by air carriers to the US. The request to re-negotiate the existing PNR Agreement came from the European Parliament as part of its new role in the post-Lisbon era, and Commissioner Malmström started negotiations in December 2010 after receiving negotiating authorisation from the Council. The new text represents a substantial improvement over the existing 2007 Agreement and Commissioner Malmstrom intends to ask the green light of the Council and the European Parliament to sign it soon.

EU proposal for passenger data to fight serious crime and terrorism - guide — 02 February 2011, 18:50 CET

The European Commission has presented a proposal for an EU Passenger Name Record (PNR) Directive to fight serious crime and terrorism. The proposal obliges air carriers to provide EU Member States with data on passengers entering or departing from the EU, whilst guaranteeing a high level of protection of privacy and personal data.

Second Stage EU–US "Open Skies" agreement - guide — 24 June 2010, 15:31 CET

The 'second stage' Open Skies aviation agreement was signed by the European Union and the United States in Luxembourg today. The full implementation of the first and second stage agreements is expected to give the economy a EUR 12 billion boost as well as create up to 80,000 new jobs.

EU-US Open Skies: MEPs call for open markets — 17 June 2010, 17:04 CET

The European Parliament regrets continuing US restrictions on EU companies' ownership of stakes in US airlines, calls for better protection of air passengers' personal data, and says airlines from both sides should be included in emission trading rules, in a resolution passed on Thursday.

EU seeks high privacy standards in EU-US data protection agreement — 26 May 2010, 23:35 CET

The European Commission has adopted a draft mandate to negotiate a personal data protection agreement between the European Union and the United States when cooperating to fight terrorism or crime. The agreement would give citizens more rights to manage their data.

EU-US data protection agreement negotiations - briefing — 26 May 2010, 23:33 CET

The European Commission today adopted a draft mandate to negotiate a personal data protection agreement between the European Union and the United States when cooperating to fight terrorism or crime. The aim is to ensure a high level of protection of personal information like passenger data or financial information that is transferred as part of transatlantic cooperation in criminal matters. The agreement would enhance the right of citizens to access, rectify or delete data, where appropriate.

"Bulk data" transfers to the US against EU law, warn MEPs — 05 May 2010, 22:46 CET

Euro-MPs warned today that any new agreement on providing bank data to the United States must avoid "bulk data" transfers until they can be processed within the EU.

Terrorism: agreement on bank data transfers with US - briefing — 24 March 2010, 23:41 CET

Adoption of a proposal for a mandate for negotiating an agreement on bank data transfers with the United States government under the Terrorist Financing Tracking Programme

New EU-US negotiations on bank data transfers on the cards — 24 March 2010, 23:42 CET

The Commission today adopted a draft mandate for negotiating bank data transfers with the United States government under the Terrorist Financing Tracking Programme (TFTP). The Commission wants to complete an agreement this summer to limit gaps in security.

The EU's Trade Relationship with the United States — 08 July 2011, 17:17 CET

The European Union and the United States have the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world. The size and importance of these trade ties make the EU and the US the key players in the global trading system.

USA: internet gambling ban and its discriminatory enforcement — 10 June 2009, 23:49 CET

US laws on remote gambling and their enforcement against EU companies: European Commission report

Trade Barriers Regulation report on US Internet gambling laws - briefing — 10 June 2009, 23:50 CET

The European Commission published on 10 June a report on US laws on remote gambling and their enforcement against EU companies. This report is the outcome of an investigation into United States measures affecting foreign suppliers of Internet gambling services. The report concludes that the US measures constitute an obstacle to trade that is inconsistent with WTO rules. As a result, WTO proceedings would be justified. At the same time, the report suggests that the issue should be addressed with the US Administration, with a view to finding a negotiated solution.

EU - US provisional agreement in beef dispute - briefing — 06 May 2009, 23:49 CET

Today the European Commission and the United States agreed in principle on a way forward in the long-running dispute over hormone-treated beef.

EU-US Trade and Investment - briefing — 18 March 2009, 23:12 CET

Facts and figures on Trade and Investment between the European Union and the United States.

European perspectives on the new American foreign policy agenda — 12 February 2009, 12:12 CET

The event that is most likely to determine the course of international politics in the year 2009 is the arrival of the new administration in the United States. President Barack Obama campaigned on the promise of change – the message that clearly resonated so well with the Americans but also with the rest of the world. The world is full of expectations of the new President and the foreign policy that he is likely to conduct. Some of these expectations are unrealistic, some are no more than projections of other peoples’ wishes onto the new administration’s agenda. However, during his campaign Barack Obama promised some far-reaching changes in America’s foreign policy and this, arguably, is one of the reasons why he won the election. It is therefore not unreasonable to expect a considerable evolution of US foreign policy in 2009, which would have an impact on the rest of the world. A vast majority of Europeans cheered for Barack Obama and welcomed the result of the elections. There is now a major opportunity for EU-US relations to improve under the new administration. This publication was conceived with the intention of outlining European perspectives on what we think are likely to be the joint priorities of the new administration and of the EU. We deliberately restricted the number of areas to be addressed in this report, with the intention of defining the absolute priorities for EU-US cooperation. This unfortunately meant that some very important areas, such as Africa, which is of vital importance for the EU, or China, relations with which are among America’s top priorities, are not covered in our report. The topics that we have selected, for a more in-depth analysis, are: global governance, climate change, disarmament and non-proliferation, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and transatlantic relations.

European Commission analysis of the new US Farm Bill - Zooming in on ACRE — 04 February 2009, 23:58 CET

The long-awaited 2008 US Farm Bill is the subject of the first 'Monitoring Agri-trade Policy' (MAP) edition of 2009. With farmers now signing up for support schemes for 2009/10, we zoom in on the new scheme known as the Average Crop Election Programme or ACRE. Because guaranteed prices under ACRE lock in the increases of the last two years, the new programme looks more attractive than the traditional suite of commodity support schemes. If there is a high take-up and if prices fall, then expenditure could increase sharply over levels seen in recent years. US agricultural policy once again appears to be increasing the trade-distorting component of its domestic support.

Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) - guide — 28 July 2008, 17:12 CET

ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk.

EU-US Trade and Investment — 10 June 2008, 21:07 CET

The European Union and the United States form the largest bilateral trade partnership in the world if you look at goods and services combined. Goods trade alone in 2007 amounted to over EUR 440 billion.

US Visa Waiver Program - guide — 18 April 2008, 14:55 CET

The EU Council on 18 April authorised the European Commission to open negotiations on an agreement between the European Community and the United States of America regarding certain conditions for access to the United States' Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

International Agreement on transfer of Passenger Name Records (PNR) — 03 July 2007, 15:51 CET

The European Community and the United States signed an International Agreement on 28 May 2004 that makes possible the transfer of air passenger data to the US, under certain conditions. It entered into force with immediate effect. This agreement goes hand-in-hand with the Decision adopted two weeks ago by the European Commission, establishing the adequacy of US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection’s personal data protection.

The SWIFT case and the American Terrorist Finance Tracking Program — 28 June 2007, 16:27 CET

After the 11th September 2001 terrorist attacks, the United States Department of the Treasury ("U.S. Treasury") developed the "Terrorist Finance Tracking Program" ("TFTP"). The TFTP is based on United States statutory mandates and Executive Orders authorising the U.S. Treasury to use appropriate measures to identify, track and pursue those who provide financial support for terrorist activity.

EU cash controls — 14 June 2007, 22:55 CET

The EU Council of Ministers on 12 July 2005 adopted a Regulation which aims to introduce an EU-wide approach to controlling cash movements into and out of the EU. The Regulation is applicable in all Member States as of 15 June 2007. It obliges travellers entering or leaving the Community and carrying any sum equal or more than EUR 10,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies or easily convertible assets such as cheques drawn on a third party) to make a declaration to the customs authorities.

Bush names Zoellick as new World Bank chief — 31 May 2007, 00:47 CET

U.S. President George W. Bush has named Robert Zoellick, a former trade representative and top diplomat as his nominee to head the World Bank.

The EU and the United States of America — 12 April 2018, 16:40 CET

The European Union and the United States have the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship and enjoy the most integrated economic relationship in the world.