Brussels, 03/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Union and the United States were able to demonstrate, on Thursday, on the occasion of their annual summit, that the transatlantic partnership -and leadership - is on track, despite daily disputes. The most inextricable problems were thus "evacuated" from the agenda of the meeting between Mr Bush, who was accompanied by a team or once (including Vice-President Dick Cheney), and Messrs Prodi, Aznar, Solana, as well as Messrs Lamy, Patten and Piqué. Thus, trade issues were tackled before and after the summit by Mr Lamy and Mr Zoellick. As planned, the summit opened a new phase in strengthened transatlantic cooperation. The European and American leaders heard each other's views on launching a positive economic agenda, a programme that would allow progress to be made in specific areas (see EUROPE of 25 and 27 April). An indicative list was adopted. It included the financial markets (development of dialogue on regulatory matters, if necessary), the recently adopted guidelines for transparent and closer regulatory cooperation, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, insurance, organic production, on-line tendering and customs procedures. Furthermore, President Bush pledged to reform US tax legislation with a view to conforming to the unfavourable verdict of the World Trade Organisation on the exemption system enjoyed by American exporters for the past few decades. A promise at the highest level that reassures and clarifies somewhat the debate that is essentially unfolding within Congress and that will doubtless encourage Europeans to show restraint, play for time or divide, as to the implementation of unprecedented sanctions they have a right to impose on American trade, for an amount yet to be determined (in Geneva, on 17 June). As for steel, the key issue remains that of compensations, and as we were going to print, the Lamy Zoellick meeting was still underway.