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Authored by Malte Lohan, CEO, AmCham EU

At the Alimentaria Conference in Barcelona, Edouard Coppieters, Senior Policy Adviser, AmCham EU, spoke about placing competitiveness at the centre of the European agri-food ecosystem. Taking place on Tuesday, 24 March, he outlined the role of simplification and Better Regulation principles in ensuring a stable agri-food supply chain and supporting the sector’s competitiveness. He noted that the sector operates within an international trade environment and that stakeholders across the value chain face challenges in adapting to the current legislative framework. He emphasised the need to simplify operations within the Single Market and ensure that legislation is fit for purpose rather than a box-ticking exercise. Aurélie Dufour, Europe Sustainability Engagement and Regulation Lead, Yum! Brands and Dirk Jacobs, Director-General, FoodDrinkEurope also joined the panel.

The evaluation of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation (DAC) 1-9 can help enhance tax transparency, improve the Single Market and boost Europe’s competitiveness by decluttering tax policy. By ensuring that DAC includes fixed standards and mandating greater transparency for DAC data, lawmakers can improve its functionality. Likewise, by exempting Pillar 2 companies (including those subject to the ‘side-by-side’ safe harbour) from DAC 6 and revisiting the administrative requirements and outcomes of reporting under DAC 6, the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD), the Pillar 2 Directive and the Public Country by Country Reporting (pCbCR) Directive, lawmakers can minimise additional costs for companies and tax authorities alike while maintaining the integrity of the tax system.

At the European Association Summit & Awards 2026, Maximiliano Santy, Senior Director of Operations, AmCham EU, spoke at a session organised by the European Society of Association Executives Finance & HR Community on salary transparency and the gender pay gap. Taking place on Thursday, 26 March, he outlined the implications of the EU Pay Transparency Directive for organisations and highlighted the importance of objective, transparent criteria in addressing pay disparities. He also emphasised the need to align compensation practices with legal requirements while supporting fairness, accountability and trust across the workplace. Natalie Bastiaens, Partner, Tax and Legal Services; Kathleen Bracke, Managing Associate, Social Legal, BDO and Martina Schusterova, Director, Energy Traders Europe also joined the panel.

The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) is deeply concerned by World Trade Organization members’ failure to reach agreement on the moratorium on E-Commerce at the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon. The absence of an agreement undermines legal certainty for businesses and consumers worldwide. This deadlock further underscores the need for significant WTO reform.

Since its introduction, the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions has played a vital role in enabling the global digital economy by ensuring the smooth cross-border exchange of digital goods and services. In an increasingly digitalised global economy, predictability remains essential for companies of all sizes operating across borders.

WTO members must now renew efforts to re-instate the moratorium at the next General Council meeting as a matter of priority. Delivering such an outcome would strengthen the multilateral trading system and better reflect the realities of modern trade.

On Thursday, 26 March, Kim Watts, Policy Director, AmCham EU joined a panel discussion on trade, e-commerce and supply chains in a fragmenting global economy. The discussion covered a wide range of issues, including the state of global trade, transatlantic relations and economic security. Speakers explored why open trade plays a critical role in Europe's competitiveness.