At the end of the month, the European Union (EU) finally reached a deal – after weeks of negotiations – on an oil ban against Russian sourced oil and petroleum products. In mid-May, the United States (US) and EU concluded their second US-EU Trade and Technology Council ministerial meeting. Meanwhile, absent a free trade agreement … Continue Reading
The United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) continued to impose sanctions against Russia over the first two weeks of May, while the European Union (EU) continued its debate over another sanctions package. The US Congress also continues to debate a new $40 billion assistance package for Ukraine. The UK introduced legislation that would bring … Continue Reading
After multiple top European officials’ visits to Kyiv, the United States (US) Government dispatched two Cabinet-level officials to Ukraine, marking the return of American officials to the country and a re-opening of the US Embassy, since the conflict with Russia started in late February. The United Kingdom (UK) also announced its Embassy was re-opening in … Continue Reading
For the first time, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) will make its existing financing programs available to export-oriented domestic manufacturing facilities and infrastructure projects. The Make More in America Initiative was unanimously approved by the EXIM Board of Directors in April 2022, and had support from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), … Continue Reading
The United States (US) Congress moved to isolate further Russia and Belarus these past two week, as the US Government also increased bilateral pressure with the imposition of additional sanctions and restrictions. The United Kingdom (UK) Government also moved in concert these past two weeks with the US and European Union (EU) in ratcheting up … Continue Reading
Perspective: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson – Poise, Perspicacity, Pertinacity Today, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson becomes the 116th Justice of the United States Supreme Court, due in no small measure to her splendid appearance during her historic confirmation hearings. In addition to her thorough understanding of the law and the American principles and ideals on which … Continue Reading
The United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) continued to ratchet up additional pressure on Russia this week, while the European Union (EU) and UK appear to have different opinions on how best to continue to coordinate the pressure campaign against Russia. The UK and US aligned this week with high-level visits to India, part … 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* 10:15 a.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT receives the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office 12:30 p.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT has lunch with THE VICE PRESIDENT | Private Dining Room… 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* 11:30 a.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office 2:45 p.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT announces his Budget for Fiscal Year 2023, which will … Continue Reading
While the President of the United States (US), Joe Biden, appears to be willing to increase rhetoric against the President of the Russian Federation (Russia), other Western allies are less willing to join in increasing tension with Russia on this front. By Sunday, the US Secretary of State appeared to downplay President Biden’s Friday remarks … Continue Reading
In the latest indication of the Biden administration’s “whole of government” approach to climate change, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday proposed a rule that will require publicly traded companies to disclose the risks from climate change that are reasonably likely to have material impacts on their businesses or financial condition. In … Continue Reading
With military troops from the Russian Federation and aligned forces moving further into Ukraine, efforts were attempted – but failed – to establish ceasefire agreements that would allow Ukrainian civilians to evacuate Mariupol and Volnovakha, cities that faced heavy fire from Russian forces this week. European countries and the United States (US) reacted negatively to … Continue Reading
On Monday, October 4, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai gave a speech outlining the Biden Administration’s approach to the US-China trade relationship. While the speech was light on specifics, it provided for the first time a framework through which to view President Biden’s trade policies on China. From SPB’s perspective, the speech contained two notable … Continue Reading
The United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and Australia announced a new strategic alliance in the Indo-Pacific region this week that reportedly upset the US relationship with France, another strategic ally. Meanwhile, the US and the European Union (EU) combined efforts this week at an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meeting to address … Continue Reading
This week, the United Kingdom (UK) provided an extension related to the customs requirements for its goods transiting to Northern Ireland, thereby providing additional time for negotiations with the European Union (EU) to find a path forward to resolve the trade concerns tied to the Northern Ireland Protocol. The European Commission published its 2021 Strategic … Continue Reading
The United States (US) and European Union (EU) focused this week on forced labor and concerns with their respective supply chains, with the US releasing updated guidance on some related concerns coming from one region within the People’s Republic of China (China). Russia was also in the spotlight, with the US focused on cyber-attacks originating … Continue Reading
This week, former US Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater appeared on Bloomberg Radio to discuss the latest state of play on President Biden’s proposed infrastructure deal and the importance of infrastructure investment in the future of US competitiveness and prosperity.… 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
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
A second wave of COVID-19 cases is being seen around the world and governments on both sides of the Atlantic are re-examining restrictions to curb the spread of the virus again. Two of four COVID vaccine candidates in late stage trials in the United States (US) have paused after individuals had complications that are being … 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
