U.S. Chamber of Commerce Press Release:

Release Date: Jan 03, 2013Contact: 888-249-NEWS

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U.S. Chamber Congratulates Ireland on Presidency of the Council of the E.U.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today congratulated Ireland on assuming stewardship of the Council of the European Union’s rotating six-month presidency. Ireland is hosting the presidency for the seventh time since 1975.

“This is a critical time for leaders in the U.S. and E.U. to commit to launching negotiations on a transatlantic trade agreement that would provide tremendous benefits to both economies,” said Peter Chase, the U.S. Chamber’s vice president for Europe.  “Ireland has always been a strong partner to the United States and we are hopeful that its presidency at this crucial point in time can help drive a trade agreement forward.  The U.S. Chamber looks forward to continuing to work with officials in both governments to help launch trade negotiations and drive greater growth and job creation on both sides of the Atlantic.”

The launch of transatlantic trade negotiations has long been a priority for the U.S. Chamber.  U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue visited Ireland last year to call for a new pact to maximize the transatlantic relationship and spur growth and jobs on both sides of the pond.   He also met with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and other officials, and addressed U.S. and Irish companies at a breakfast organized by the American Chamber of Commerce as well as at the Irish Business and Employers Confederation’s prestigious “Annual Lecture.”

In November, Donohue, along with the CEOs of 14 other major U.S. and European business associations, sent a letter to U.S. President Obama, President of the European Commission José-Manuel Barroso, and President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy underscoring the broad support of the transatlantic business community for their work to deepen the transatlantic economic relationship. As the letter stated: “Now is the time or both the United States and the European Union (EU) to demonstrate their ability to move forward concretely and to take the bold step of launching negotiations next year on an ambitious and comprehensive U.S.-EU trade, investment, and regulatory cooperation agreement.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 3, 2013 Contact:Sally-Shannon Birkel 202-463-5682
PERMALINK
U.S. Chamber Congratulates Ireland on Presidency
of the Council of the E.U.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today congratulated Ireland on assuming stewardship of the Council of the European Union’s rotating six-month presidency. Ireland is hosting the presidency for the seventh time since 1975.

“This is a critical time for leaders in the U.S. and E.U. to commit to launching negotiations on a transatlantic trade agreement that would provide tremendous benefits to both economies,” said Peter Chase, the U.S. Chamber’s vice president for Europe.  “Ireland has always been a strong partner to the United States and we are hopeful that its presidency at this crucial point in time can help drive a trade agreement forward.  The U.S. Chamber looks forward to continuing to work with officials in both governments to help launch trade negotiations and drive greater growth and job creation on both sides of the Atlantic.”

The launch of transatlantic trade negotiations has long been a priority for the U.S. Chamber.  U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue visited Ireland last year to call for a new pact to maximize the transatlantic relationship and spur growth and jobs on both sides of the pond.   He also met with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and other officials, and addressed U.S. and Irish companies at a breakfast organized by the American Chamber of Commerce as well as at the Irish Business and Employers Confederation’s prestigious “Annual Lecture.”

In November, Donohue, along with the CEOs of 14 other major U.S. and European business associations, sent a letter to U.S. President Obama, President of the European Commission José-Manuel Barroso, and President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy underscoring the broad support of the transatlantic business community for their work to deepen the transatlantic economic relationship. As the letter stated: “Now is the time or both the United States and the European Union (EU) to demonstrate their ability to move forward concretely and to take the bold step of launching negotiations next year on an ambitious and comprehensive U.S.-EU trade, investment, and regulatory cooperation agreement.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.