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With the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) under review, now is the moment to ensure it delivers on its objectives without creating unnecessary complexity. The FSR plays an important role in addressing distortive foreign subsidies. However, its broad scope and resource-intensive procedures risk undermining its effectiveness. 

The current framework creates significant burdens for investors and contracting authorities managing public procurement processes. Changes to the Implementing Regulation alone would only provide limited value. Simplification will require targeted amendments to the primary legislation. 

Read more about proposed amendments that would help refocus the FSR on high-risk cases and support the EU’s competitiveness goals.

From Monday, 20 to Wednesday, 22 April, AmCham EU joined the AmChams in Europe network for a delegation visit to Washington, DC. As part of the programme, delegates met with representatives from the US Department of Commerce, the US Department of State, congressional offices and the US Chamber of Commerce. AmCham EU specifically also engaged with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, US Members of the House and staffers, the EU Delegation to the US, the European Parliament Liaison Office and other business organisations.

Discussions focused on the implementation of the EU-US Framework Agreement and its role in supporting a more predictable transatlantic trade and investment relationship. The deal remains the most realistic route to a more constructive climate for companies operating across the Atlantic. The EU-US strategic partnership on critical minerals points to the potential for further EU-US cooperation in areas that benefit businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

Today, the European Parliament adopted its Omnibus VI report, including the revision of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, by 540 votes to 60. The outcome supports a more streamlined framework by easing the regulatory burden on value chains that rely on chemicals and sending a positive signal of the EU’s commitment to reducing unnecessary complexity.

With the Council’s position agreed in November 2025, the Parliament’s report marks the final step before trilogues, which will conclude negotiations on the targeted revision of the CLP Regulation.

The report largely aligns with the Commission’s simplification agenda and strengthens the CLP Regulation’s overall workability, especially with regards to:

• Transition periods, setting 18 months following classification updates and allowing digital contact information to be updated on the label in line with suppliers’ regular update cycles. This better reflects supply chain realities.

• Advertising and distance sales requirements, appropriately excluding business-to-business settings while ensuring consumers remain protected; and

• Label legibility requirements, with more proportionate minimum font sizes and rules on background contrast, spacing and overall layout. However, further simplification is still needed to ensure sufficient flexibility for businesses.

While the report represents a constructive step forward, trilogues should address remaining constraints and clarify language that is currently difficult to interpret, including further simplification on font sizes and advertising requirements in business-to-consumer settings. These negotiations should draw on the more proportionate approaches of the Commission and the Council.

Maintaining a strong focus on simplification will be key to further alleviating administrative burdens and strengthening the EU’s resilience and competitiveness.