Tag Archives: JCPOA

Transatlantic Trade | US and Europe – June 27, 2022

With the mid-term elections approaching (November) in the United States (US), the White House and those Members of Congress up for re-election (the full House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate) continue to focus domestic matters of concern for American voters – namely the US economy, high gas prices, and an inflation rate that … Continue Reading

Transatlantic Trade | US and Europe – Week of November 29, 2021

The past two weeks saw the emergence of a new coronavirus variant – designated “Omicron” – that was first noted by officials in South Africa, who quickly reported it globally.  While countries around the world – including the United States of America (US or USA) – restricted travel to and from nations in southern Africa, … Continue Reading

Transatlantic Trade | US and Europe – Week of April 12, 2021

Tensions with Russia resulted in another G7 statement on the situation in and around Ukraine, while the United States (US) moved to address other Russian provocations related to cyber intrusions, election interference and bounties on US troops in Afghanistan.  The United Kingdom (UK) also denounced Russia’s malign activities.  While US lawmakers welcomed the actions against … Continue Reading

US Executive Branch Update – April 12, 2021

This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* 10:00 a.m. EDT – The President receives the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office 12:00 p.m. EDT – The President briefly joins the virtual CEO Summit on Semiconductor and Supply Chain Resilience; National … Continue Reading

Transatlantic Trade | US and Europe – Week of February 15, 2021

United States (US) engagement with transatlantic partners came across multiple fronts this week, via the White House, State Department outreach, the NATO Defense Ministerial and Treasury Department outreach.  The European Commission released its trade strategy, with the “Open Strategic Autonomy” principle at the center, but also prioritizing strengthening the European Union (EU)-US relationship.  Effective this … Continue Reading

Transatlantic Trade: US and Europe – Welcome to the Inaugural Report of 2021

All eyes were on Washington, D.C. last week, as news emerged Wednesday that the United States (US) Capitol was breached.  Order was restored quickly and Congress moved ahead with certifying the 3 November election results.  In the wake of the incident, US President Donald Trump is under pressure to resign, with just over a week … Continue Reading

Transatlantic Trade: US and Europe – Week of December 7, 2020

Last week, the United Kingdom (UK) moved forward with its first inoculations of the approved Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.  The United States (US) approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Friday, 11 December, and will begin inoculations this coming week.  The European Union (EU) continues to stress safety over speed in its vaccine approval process and has yet … Continue Reading

Transition 2020 | Defense and National Security Policy Under the Incoming Biden Administration

Both major change and desired continuity can be expected.  Beginning with perhaps the most historically significant change we expect to see in President-elect Biden’s defense and national security organizations, we believe that the Nation will see the first female serving as the Secretary of Defense.… Continue Reading

President Trump Signed New Executive Orders Last Week, Focused on Trade and Energy; The President Will Host the Leaders of Egypt, Jordan and China This Week, While Congress Continues to Focus on Iran, Russia and North Korea

President Donald Trump will welcome Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and King Abdullah II of Jordan to the White House this week. He is expected to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping to Mar-a-Lago later in the week. President Trump met last Thursday with Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. According to the White House, the two … Continue Reading

President Obama to Participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit and the Global Entrepreneurship Summit; Congress to Examine the U.S. Economy

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Orlando, Florida, last Thursday to meet with the families of the 49 victims of the shooting at a gay nightclub last weekend.  President Obama will participate in this week’s SelectUSA Investment Summit, which will be held in Washington, D.C.  Secretary of State John Kerry affirmed … Continue Reading

Washington Seeks to Protect the Homeland from the Rapidly Spreading Zika Virus; Ambassador Froman Heads to the TPP Signing Ceremony; Safe Harbor Negotiators Fail to Meet EU Deadline

Historic snowfall levels kept the U.S. Federal Government from officially reopening until Wednesday of last week.  President Barack Obama, however, met the day before with his health and national security teams to discuss the rapid spread of Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses in the Americas and steps being taken to protect U.S. citizens.  The President … Continue Reading

Congress Reacts to Administration’s Implementation Plan for Changes to Visa Waiver Program; Supreme Court Will Consider Challenge to President’s Executive Actions on Immigration

Legislative Activity Congress Reacts to Administration’s Implementation Plan for Changes to Visa Waiver Program On January 21, the Administration announced plans to begin implementing changes to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) included in the omnibus appropriations bill funding the government through the end of FY 2016.  The VWP permits citizens from approved countries to enter … Continue Reading

House to Vote on an Iran-Sanctions Bill and a Measure to Electrify Africa; Some Congressional Hearings to Focus on Countering ISIL and the U.S. Strategy for Syria and Iraq

The Senate was in session last week, while the House of Representatives remained in recess in observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.  On 16 January, Implementation Day of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran took effect, as did a prisoner swap.  Washington’s attention then quickly shifted to an impending historic blizzard … Continue Reading

Congress Focuses on Nonproliferation (Iran, North Korea); President Obama Focuses on the State of the Union Address

The House of Representatives reconvened in Washington last Tuesday.  The Senate reconvenes today.  President Barack Obama will address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday when he gives the annual State of the Union.  Last week, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget announced the President would release his Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Budget … Continue Reading

Congress Adjourns for the Year – Recap of Last Week’s Foreign Policy Matters; President Obama Departs Washington for the Holidays

Congress approved an Omnibus spending measure and tax extenders package last Friday, its final major hurdle before adjourning for the year.  The House is expected to return for the new congressional session on Tuesday, 5 January 2016, with the Senate to follow on Monday, 11 January. President Barack Obama departed Washington late Friday for his … Continue Reading

Before it Adjourns for the Year, Some in Congress Signal Discontentment with Iran and the JCPOA; Washington Also Remains Focused on Combatting ISIL; President Obama Heralds the Conclusion of an International Climate Agreement

Congress reconvened last Monday to work on advancing several priority measures – such as an Omnibus spending measure to fund the federal government, a tax extenders package, and the customs bill, among others – in anticipation of adjourning later this week for the year. San Bernardino Shooting The Federal Bureau of Investigation continues to investigate … Continue Reading

Iran Nuclear Deal Enters into Force, While Congress Scrutinizes Iran’s ICBM Test; 11th Round of TTIP Negotiations Commence This Week in Florida; President Obama and Senate Committee Focus on Climate Change Early This Week

Iran Nuclear Deal Enters into Force – Congress Scrutinizes Iran’s ICBM Test On Sunday, President Barack Obama issued a statement on the adoption day of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between the P5+1 and Iran. The President said he had directed the heads of all relevant U.S. executive departments and agencies to begin … Continue Reading
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