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
The United Kingdom (UK) approved its first COVID-19 vaccine this past week, moving forward with its first inoculations this month. Regulators in the United States (US) and European Union (EU) are still examining the Phase 3 clinical data but are not far behind in their respective approval processes for some vaccine candidates. Talks between the … Continue Reading
States continue to certify their election results in the United States (US), amid ongoing legal challenges from US President Donald Trump. With temperatures cooling and holidays approaching, governments on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean continue to evaluate the situation and impose or refine restrictions as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.… Continue Reading
President-Elect Joe Biden is expected to prioritize rebuilding transatlantic relations, after several years of elevated tensions on a number of trade priorities. US and European officials have traded barbs on a number of fronts – from World Trade Organization (WTO) reform to the long-standing large civil aircraft dispute, and from Section 232 national security tariffs … Continue Reading
There are a number of factors complicating transatlantic efforts to stem the novel coronavirus, such as lockdown fatigue and related impacts to economies. Nonetheless, European governments continue to respond to the latest COVID-19 wave engulfing the region; the European Union (EU) is pushing Member States to remain coordinated. While infections are similarly increasing in the … Continue Reading
While COVID-19 infections continue to rise globally and transatlantic governments are responding accordingly, the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) resumed negotiations over terms for its relationship, post Brexit. Late last week, the EU’s investment screening regulation entered into force; the bloc continues to move forward in its process to approve an EU Global … Continue Reading
COVID-19 has affected leadership in the United States (US) and Europe these past few weeks, with multiple top US officials in self-quarantine this week after potential exposures to infected persons. US officials have thus far failed to advance another COVID-19 relief package, while the European Union (EU) Finance Ministers reached a political agreement on the … Continue Reading
During a press conference on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD-A&S) Ellen Lord announced Department of Defense’s (DoD) latest efforts to overhaul how it intends to procure weapons, goods and services—with an emphasis on speed from design to fielding and on cutting operations and maintenance costs. Additionally, on August … Continue Reading
Several high-level officials from the United States (US) were in Europe this past week, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Collectively, they focused on the Brexit talks, strengthening economic relations, 5G infrastructure, energy and transatlantic security, as well as Hizballah. The United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) continued their discussions on Britain’s future … Continue Reading
The European Commission moved forward with guidance this week on its COVID-19 recovery and resilience efforts. The United Kingdom (UK) continues to prepare for its transition out of the European Union (EU) at the end of the year, while talks continue between the two sides. Trade negotiations between the United States (US) and UK also … Continue Reading
Over the past two weeks, the European Union (EU) saw the resignation of its EU Trade Commissioner, increased tension in the Eastern Mediterranean, and several EU countries received a high-level Chinese delegation. The United States (US) and EU also achieved a tariff reducing deal on American lobsters and other products. Meanwhile, transatlantic attention remains focused … Continue Reading
Recently, transatlantic attention has focused on Belarus after irregularities were noted with its presidential election on 9 August that resulted in protests in that nation. Meanwhile, talks between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) also resumed this week, continuing to seek a path forward for the UK’s future trade arrangements with the … Continue Reading
On Wednesday, 29 July, the European Union (EU) and China convened its 8th High Level Trade and Economic Dialogue to discuss economic and trade issues, apart from addressing COVID-19. With more citizens travelling and visiting beaches in Europe and in the United States (US), COVID-19 cases continue to spike. This report also touches on the … Continue Reading
The European Union’s (EU) Foreign Affairs Council met this past week and focused on concerns with respect to the Eastern Mediterranean, Libya and Hong Kong. This week’s report provides a readout of some of these discussions, as well as the United States’ (US) perspective on the Eastern Mediterranean region and Libya. The United Kingdom (UK) … Continue Reading
The United Kingdom (UK) unveiled its new human rights sanctions regime this past week, along with its first designations. The United States (US) welcomed the action, and some US lawmakers continue to urge the European Union (EU) to adopt a similar regime. Meanwhile, the EU moved forward with its trade policy review, with some seeking … Continue Reading
The European Union (EU) has begun lifting some restrictions on non-EU travelers to the bloc, approving non-binding recommendations for member states. The United States (US), which has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases, is not among the list of countries whose citizens are permitted to travel to the EU. The United Kingdom (UK) also released … Continue Reading
Congress is facing renewed pressure to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in “stimulus” money to states, territories, counties and municipalities and to allow such entities the option of using the money to offset revenue lost as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives has begun floor consideration of a … Continue Reading
This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* *The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change. 3:30PM THE PRESIDENT receives his intelligence briefing | Oval Office Looking ahead: On Wednesday, July 1, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement … Continue Reading
American officials continue to raise concerns with China’s perceived long-term goals, which they believe may undermine multilateral institutions, national security and sovereign interests, and democratic principles in general. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified existing concerns with China, and it may serve as the catalyst for further transatlantic cooperation aimed at responding to some of China’s … Continue Reading
America and European countries remain focused on securing a COVID-19 vaccine to prevent resurgences of the virus, with the European Commission unveiling a strategy this week to accelerate its coordinated efforts. At a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defense Ministerial this week, partners focused on COVID-19 and other topics, including the US’ announcement to lower … Continue Reading
President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are being pressured by anti-establishment organizations to provide no further federal spending in response to the coronavirus. But the president and his team appear poised to move in the opposite direction, having recently revealed plans to put forth a US$1 trillion national infrastructure spending blueprint in the coming days … Continue Reading
A potential area of increased transatlantic collaboration could center on ongoing efforts to reform the World Trade Organization (WTO). China’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic may provide an avenue for the United States (US) and European Union (EU), along with the United Kingdom (UK) and other like-minded trading partners, to bridge divides on WTO reform … Continue Reading
This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* 1:00 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT has lunch with the Vice President | Private Dining Room 3:00 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT participates in a roundtable with law enforcement | State Dining Room … Continue Reading
This weekly report captures developments from the US executive and legislative branches related to higher education policy, and also includes additional information such as relevant reports and upcoming events.… Continue Reading