Envisioning the economic future of the transatlantic trade relationship

Which key themes will define the transatlantic trade relationship in 2021? That was the question at the Fiscal Note Executive Institute’s roundtable discussion on Thursday, 28 January – where AmCham EU was represented among an esteemed panel by CEO Susan Danger.

The discussion, ably moderated by Kate Smyth Haskins, Vice President for External Affairs, German Marshall Fund to the US (GMF), kicked off with each of the panellists offering their perspectives on how the transatlantic relationship might evolve under the new US administration.

News
28 Jan 2021
Envisioning the economic future of the transatlantic trade relationship

Susan, who was joined on the panel by Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, GMF Senior Fellow, as well as Julia Friedlander, C. Boyden Gray Senior Fellow and Deputy Director, GeoEconomics Center, Atlantic Council, identified the priority of the economic recovery from the point of view of American business invested in and committed to the EU. She went on to emphasise the importance of investing in a ‘twin transition’ of more sustainable economic growth alongside embracing digital technologies, while underscoring the importance of the US-EU trade relationship and expressing hope that the tension points that have held the relationship back in more recent times might be properly addressed in 2021.

The discussion, which was well attended by executives from both sides of the Atlantic, touched upon a broad range of themes, from the economic relationship of the transatlantic partners; to the prospect of a revitalised multilateral order; potential areas for cooperation on the sustainability agenda; as well as economic statecraft, sanctions and trade tariffs.

Related items

News
12 Nov 2026

Keeping Europe open and competitive with our Executive Council

Predictability in EU-US relations and Europe’s competitiveness agenda, from simplification to European preference, were centre stage during our Executive Council Fall Plenary on Monday, 9 and Tuesday, 10 November. Our senior business leaders met with EU, US, Canadian and Member State policymakers, as well as industry and think-tank leaders, to discuss the pressures shaping investment decisions in Europe.

The group engaged with the following: Nerijus Aleksiejūnas, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the European Union; Enrico Letta, President of the Jacques Delors Institute; Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, European Commission; Andrew Puzder, Ambassador of the United States to the European Union; Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy; Sir Jonathan Symonds, President of the European Round Table for Industry and Chair of GSK and Jonathan Wilkinson, Ambassador of Canada to the European Union. 

Throughout the two days, exchanges explored how to maintain momentum on Single Market integration, deliver meaningful regulatory simplification and strengthen the role of industry in developing skills and creating quality jobs. Discussions also touched on the changing international trade landscape, the importance of EU-US cooperation and the priorities that will shape the upcoming Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Learn more about our Executive Council here. 

Simplification
Transatlantic
Read more
Read more about Keeping Europe open and competitive with our Executive Council
Position Paper
10 Nov 2026

Making web scraping rules work for AI

The European Data Protection Board’s draft guidelines on web scraping for generative AI are an opportunity to provide greater legal certainty and support Europe’s AI competitiveness. However, some proposed requirements risk creating disproportionate burdens for AI developers.

A pragmatic, risk-based approach is needed to ensure the rules reflect the technical realities of AI development. This includes proportionate transparency obligations, recognition of the need for diverse training datasets and greater alignment with the AI Act and Digital Omnibus. Clear, harmonised rules are essential to protect personal data while enabling innovation.

Read our consultation response to learn more about the recommendations.

Digital
Read more
Read more about Making web scraping rules work for AI
News
9 Nov 2026

Discussing EU-US trade after the midterms with KAS and BDI

On Thursday, 5 November, Malte Lohan, CEO, AmCham EU, spoke at a discussion hosted by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Europe and the Federation of German Industries (BDI) on EU-US trade relations after the US midterms. Mr Lohan stressed that elections change the conversation, though not necessarily the outcomes. While the midterms shift power on Capitol Hill, he was not sure this would extend to transatlantic relations, certainly not in the short term. He noted the Turnberry Agreement has brought much-needed predictability, but the relationship remains volatile, with flashpoints ahead that could put stability at risk. The agreement should be solidified and built on, with a move from strategic autonomy to strategic complementarity that will resonate in Washington. Exploring new avenues for partnering where interests align is worthwhile for a $9.8 trillion relationship that employs over 16 million people on both sides of the Atlantic. Learn more about the latest EU-US trade developments in the Transatlantic Economy Pulse.

Transatlantic
Read more
Read more about Discussing EU-US trade after the midterms with KAS and BDI