Brussels, 23/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - A few days away from the EU/USA Summit (for the agenda, EUROPE 22 June p 11). Eurochambres (Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry) and the US Chamber of Commerce have launched a joint appeal to leaders from the two sides of the Atlantic to give a "new boost" to the economy by abolishing non-tariff barriers. During a joint meeting on Tuesday in Dublin, the two organisations exclaimed that companies continued to face serious obstacles to doing business across the Atlantic ("Obstacles to TransAtlantic trade and Investment".
The President of Eurochambres, Christoph Leitl commented that, "The fact that we have managed to substantially cut tariffs, should not induce us to sit back and relax. Transatlantic trade has definitely not reached its full potential. European and US companies are calling for increased efforts to facilitate trade and investment".
The President of the US Chamber of Commerce, Thomas J. Donohue, said that the time was right to intensify transatlantic trade relations by moving, "their relations forward - towards further opening of markets, resolution of longstanding disputes, and a renewed commitment to economic growth and reform".