The American business community is calling on the political world to work to reinforce the transatlantic relationship.
Marjorie Chorlins, Vice-President for European Affairs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, testified on Thursday 27 June, before the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Europe.
"The transatlantic economy remains by far the most successful bilateral commercial partnership in the world", she said.
At a hearing on the "Transatlantic Policy Impacts of the U.S.-EU Trade Conflict", Mrs Chorlins stressed that the U.S. business community remains firmly committed to a strong transatlantic relationship. This is in the interest of workers, consumers and businesses of all sizes on both sides of the Atlantic, she said.
According to her, the tariff sanctions imposed by Washington on European steel and aluminium imports and the threat of further tariff increases on European cars are causing a tariff escalation and undermining confidence between transatlantic partners.
"Given the increasingly tenuous state of global economic growth, such an expansion of trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies would have a devastating effect", said the representative of the Chamber of Commerce.
On behalf of the business community, the Chamber advocates a "reinforced partnership" between Washington and the Union that would stimulate economic growth, promote the creation of good jobs and strengthen competitiveness. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)