Economic Relations

Federal Reserve Chairman Benjamin Bernanke (AP Photos)U.S. Senate Confirms Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve Chairman - The U.S. Senate confirmed Ben Bernanke January 28 to a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve, a move likely to reassure world markets that an experienced hand will continue to guide the U.S. central bank and that monetary policy will remain consistent. “We have had a leader at the Federal Reserve over the last year and a half that has virtually saved our economy from a predictable collapse,” said Senator Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat and chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, in urging his colleagues to approve Bernanke’ s nomination. “To have him walk away and have the Federal Reserve without leadership at this critical moment would be beyond shameful; it would be the height of irresponsibility.”

2010: Ambassador Kennard on "Mapping the Future of the EU-U.S. Strategic Partnership" (Jan 25, 2010) | Ask the U.S. Trade Representative: U.S. and EU Trade Relations/TEC (Jan 6, 2010)

U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economic Affairs Michael Froman (left) and European Commission Vice President and Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen at the October 27, 2009, meeting of the Transatlantic Economic Council. Photo: Website of the European Commission Delegation in WashingtonU.S. and EU officials met in Washington on October 26-27 for the U.S.-EU Financial Markets Regulatory Dialogue (FRMD) and the first Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) to take place during the Obama presidency. The TEC meeting, which occurred in the early stages of a recovery from a major international financial and economic crisis and just ahead of the next U.S.–EU Summit, reviewed global economic challenges and stressed the need to cooperate even more closely, including to enhance the integration and competitiveness of U.S. and EU economies. Participants also welcomed the initiative to establish at the November 3 Summit a new ministerial-level Energy Council, which will seek to deepen EU-U.S. cooperation to promote energy security. (TEC statement and Progress Report). The FMRD, which met the day before the TEC, looked at the implementation of broad strategy and also focused on specific regulatory issues, including financial markets regulation, hedge funds and derivatives (Joint Report).

2009: Secretary Locke Commends EU and Member State Ratification of WIPO Internet Intellectual Property Treaties (Dec 15, 2009) | Hormats: U.S.-European Economic Relationship Central to World Economy (Dec 10, 2009) (Testimony) | U.S.'s Gordon on the U.S.-Europe Partnership Under the Obama Administration (Dec 9, 2009) | Treasury's Sobel Addresses the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (Dec 5, 2009) | Justice Department Issues Statement on European Commission’s Decision on Proposed Transaction Between Oracle and Sun (Nov 9, 2009) | U.S., EU Focus on Regulatory Barriers at Transatlantic Economic Council (Oct 27, 2009) (TEC Progress Report) (Joint Report on U.S.–EU Financial Markets Regulatory Dialogue) | Treasury's Sobel Discusses Financial Regulation, U.S.-EU Cooperation (Oct 5, 2009) | U.S.-EU Intellectual Property Rights Working Group Meets in Washington (Sep 23-23, 2009) | U.S., EU, Others Meet to Address Semiconductor Counterfeiting (Sep 22, 2009) | Will Financial Crisis Bring U.S.-EU Regulatory Convergence? (May 7, 2009) | U.S., Western European Economic Systems Differ Philosophically (May 7, 2009) | G20 Pledges $1.1 Trillion for Economic Recovery (Apr 2, 2009) (Obama Calls G20 Summit a Turning Point for Recovery) | Financial Crisis Tops Agenda in British Prime Minister’s Visit (Mar 3, 2009) (Remarks by President Obama, British Prime Minister Brown (Mar 3, 2009))

GEORGE W. BUSH ADMINISTRATION

Dan Price, co-chairman of the Transatlantic Economic Council (left) and James Connaughton, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Photo: John Self, U.S. Embassy Berlin2008: U.S., EU Meet to Advance Economic Cooperation (Dec 12, 2008) | Statements by Bush, Sarkozy, EU's Barroso at Camp David | Major Countries Consider New Global Financial Order (Oct 17, 2008) | Transatlantic Economic Council Report (Jun 10, 2008) | U.S., EU Discuss Investment, Poultry at Second Transatlantic Economic Council Meeting (May 13, 2008) | U.S.'s Price Discusses Transatlantic Economic Council's Successes, Future (Apr 30, 2008) | Treasury's Sobel Discusses Transatlantic Regulatory Issues Ahead of TEC Meeting (Apr 30, 2008) | U.S., EU Adopt Roadmap on Mutual Recognition of Supply Chain Security Standards (Mar 27, 2008) | U.S., EU Discuss Investment, Poultry at Second Transatlantic Economic Council Meeting (May 13, 2008) | U.S. Officials Discuss Transatlantic Economic Ties, Climate Change in Berlin (Feb 26, 2008) | U.S., EU Announce Joint Operation in Combating Pirated Goods (Feb 22, 2008)

2007: New Transatlantic Economic Council Works to Dismantle Regulatory Barriers (includes joint statement) (Nov 9, 2007) | U.S., EU Launch Transatlantic Economic Council (Nov 8, 2007) | U.S., EU, Others Responsible for Capital Market Regulation Work to Enhance IASC Foundation Governance (Nov 7, 2007) | U.S. To Seek New Trade Agreement to Fight Fakes with EU, Others (Oct 23, 2007) | U.S. Department of Justice: European Microsoft Decision Could Discourage Competition (Sep 17, 2007) | Framework for Advancing Transatlantic Economic Integration Between the U.S. and the EU, (April 30, 2007) |  PCAOB Chair, European Commissioner Discuss Furthering Cooperation in the Oversight of Audit Firms (Mar 6, 2007) | U.S., EU To Expand Trans-Atlantic Investment Market (Mar 27, 2007) | Treasury's Kimmitt in Berlin Discusses Transatlantic Market Initiative, Economic Ties (Mar 19, 2007) | U.S., EU, Others Responsible for Capital Market Regulation Work to Enhance IASC Foundation Governance (Nov 7, 2007) | PCAOB Chair, European Commissioner Discuss Furthering Cooperation in the Oversight of Audit Firms (Mar 6, 2007) | U.S. Comments on EU's "Metric-Only" Labeling Directive (Feb 28, 2007) 

2006: U.S., EU Hold Informal Economic Ministerial (Nov 11, 2006) (Press Release) | SEC and CESR Launch Work Plan Focused on Financial Reporting Developing: Cross Atlantic Financial Markets (Aug 2, 2006) | U.S.-EU Summit Declaration (Jun 21, 2006) | U.S., EU Adopt Action Strategy for the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (Jun 20, 2006) |  U.S., European Insurance Supervisors Agree on Model Memorandum of Understanding (Mar 21, 2006) | Treasury's Sobel Looks "Inside the U.S.-EU Financial Dialogue" (Mar 9, 2006) | SEC's Cox, EU's McCreevy Discuss Reconciling Accounting Standards (Feb 8, 2006) | SEC's Atkins Remarks at Brussels Financial Services Conference (Jan 31, 2006)

2005: Announcement of Cooperation Between SEC and CESR (Dec 15, 2005) | SEC's Tafara Discusses Intl. Reporting Standards with European Accountants (Dec 1, 2005) | U.S., EU Hold Informal Economic Ministerial (Nov 30, 2005) | FTC's Blumenthal in Brussels: The Status of Convergence on Transatlantic Merger Policy (Oct 27, 2005) | SEC's Atkins Speaks to the EP Financial Service Forum (Oct 26, 2005) | United States, EU Fight Global Piracy, Counterfeiting (Jun 20, 2005) | U.S., EU List Steps To Enhance Economic Integration, Growth (Jun 20, 2005) | U.S., European Officials To Promote Collaboration Against Piracy (Jun 6, 2005) | U.S. Securities Chair Meets with EU Internal Market Commissioner (Apr 25, 2005) | Secretary Snow, EU Commissioner McCreevy Meet in New York (Apr 20, 2005) | U.S., EU Regulatory Cooperation Enhances Economic Partnership (Feb 22, 2005)

2004: U.S., EU Work to Resolve Differences in Financial Market Regulation (Jun 28, 2004) | Strategy for Strengthening EU-U.S. Economic Partnership Outlined (Jun 26, 2004) | Summit Report on U.S.-EU Financial Markets Reg. Dialogue (Jun 26, 2004) | U.S., EU Approaches to Antitrust Issues -- 17 Years Out (Jun 8, 2004) | Dept. of Justice's Pate on "Antitrust in a Transatlantic Context," (Jun 7, 2004) | Antitrust Cooperation to Continue with EU after Microsoft Fine (Mar 25, 2004) | U.S. Securities Regulator Seeks More Cooperation with EU (Jan 27, 2004) | SEC's Tafara: U.S. Securities Market Integration, Cooperation with EU (Jan 27, 2004)

2003: Treasury's Quarles: U.S.-EU Cooperation on Financial Issues (Nov 14, 2003) | Ries Cites U.S., EU Efforts to Reconcile Regulatory Approaches (Oct 17, 2003) | U.S.-EU Informal Financial Markets Dialogue (Jun 25, 2003)

2002: U.S., EU Issue Guidelines for Merger Review Process (Oct 30, 2002) | SEC, European Commission Praise Actions by FASB, IASB (Oct 29, 2002) | Bolkestein, Pitt Discuss Corporate Governance Issues (Oct 9, 2002) | U.S. Calls for Transatlantic Dialogue on Antitrust Issues (May 17, 2002) | Asst. Attorney General James: Antitrust in Early 21st Century (May 15, 2002

2001:  U.S.-EU Informal Financial Markets Dialogue (Jun 25, 2001)