British-American Business Council - Policy Snapshot
The start of May is an important week for BAB's two policy priorities: UK-US Trade and Investment and Brexit.
President Trump has postponed his planned tariffs on EU steel and aluminium due to start on the 1 May, until 1 June. We support the efforts of the UK with the EU to avoid such measures which would damage transatlantic trade.
In Brexit, negotiations get back underway this week in Brussels. The obvious roadblock that remains is over a
customs union
with the Prime Minister's Cabinet still divided over the issue. BAB has been clear since 2016 that any future relationship must maintain the freest and most friction-less trade between the UK and the EU.
April saw the creation of the
UK-US Financial Services Regulatory Working Group
to formalise the exchange of views on the future of UK-US financial service regulation. BAB has long advocated for the creation of such a forum to exist, including in this year's
Policy Agenda
,
and welcomes the creation of the Working Group.
Finally, a
visit from President Donald Trump to the UK,
has been announced for Friday 13 July. We are working with our US colleagues on the details of the visit for any opportunity for BAB to be involved in the programming.
As always email the
BAB Policy Team
or tweet us
@BritAmBusiness
if you want to find out how to be involved in our policy work, at BAB or via the chapters of the British-American Business Council (BABC).
The BAB Policy Team
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UK Launch of 'Across the Pond'
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BAB is delighted to announce the UK launch of our Across the Pond: British Trade & Investment Success Stories in the US publication later this month on Tuesday 15 May.
The launch is kindly hosted by BAB member Barclays and will take place at the top floor of their Global Headquarters in Canary Wharf.
BAB is happy to announce the US Ambassador to the UK, Robert Wood Johnson, will be attending alongside Minister of State for Trade Policy, the Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, delivering remarks on the shared value of UK-US Trade and Investment
We welcome our members and policy stakeholders to register their place if they have not already done so, for what promises to be a fun evening celebrating the success of UK companies who have 'crossed the pond' to the US.
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Events, Media & Initiatives
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Tri-Investor meeting with Department for Exiting the EU
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BAB welcomed representatives from some of the largest single country investors in the UK; The US, Japan and Germany, for a panel session with the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) kindly hosted by BAB member Thomson Reuters and moderated by Axel Threifal, Editor at Large for Thomson Reuters.
Duncan Edwards, CEO of BAB and the British-American Business Council welcomed attendees who heard from DExEU Director of Communications and Stakeholders, James Roscoe, on the next steps in the Brexit negotiations and the importance of keeping the UK attractive to foreign investors, Graham Holman, Director, Sumitomo Corporation Europe Ltd.; Co-Head and Dr Bernd Atenstaedt, Chairman and Chief Executive,of German Industry UK gave the priorities and perspectives of the Japanese and German industries in the UK with Mark Dorsett, UK Country Director, Caterpillar giving the company view on the UK's attractiveness to Caterpillar in light of Brexit. Emanuel Adam, Director for Trade and Policy at BAB spoke on behalf of US business and investors.
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Take part in DIT Research on Exporting to UK and US market
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BAB is partnering with DIT to test a survey that they will be rolling out in 2018 on the challenges that business face in accessing the US market for UK companies and accessing the UK market for US companies.
If your business exports a good or service to the UK or US, particularly in insurance, other business services, chemicals, recreation and other services, or agriculture sectors, contact BAB Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Theo Bachrach on [email protected] for how to take part. Interviews are taking place in the US and UK up to Tuesday 15 May.
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BAB CEO, Notes on Trade and Brexit
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BAB and BABC CEO, Duncan Edwards has published the first of his quarterly 'Notes from the CEO'. The memo is designed to keep members up to date on BAB's work including on policy and trade promotion.
See the first edition
here.
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BAB Director of Policy in the American Hour
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BAB Director of Policy and Trade Emanuel Adam has written for 'The American Hour', on transatlantic business' view on Brexit. He welcomed the recent engagement from US Ambassador Robert Wood Johnson on the issue which sent a signal the Administration is taking the implications of Brexit seriously and working for a smooth transition to take place that favours US business in the UK.
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BAB featured in House of Commons Report on Brexit
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A new
House of Commons Report
on the Future of UK-EU relationship has been released, setting out the Committee's 'tests' for what a future UK-EU Trade Agreement should pass, many of which BAB has called for to maintain the essential trade and investment relationship. BAB Director of Policy and Trade, Emanuel Adam, gave evidence to the Committee on the lessons that can be learned from the TTIP negotiations for the negotiation of a future UK-EU Trade Agreement. The first major announcement on what a future UK-EU Trade Agreement will look like is expected October 2018.
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Events across the BABC Network
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BABC Pacific North West
Across the Pond: A US/UK Business Briefing
BABC joins the Port of Portland and US Commercial Service - Oregon to host a special US/UK business and trade briefing with government and business representatives.
Complimentary registration; sign up by 5/16 to ensure your spot.
When: May 24, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Where: World Trade Center Portland 121 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR 97204, USA
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BAB New York
Future-Proofing Talent: The New Rules for Engaging “Generation Next”
In the age of disruption, the nature of work is changing more rapidly than ever before.
Key questions include: How to future-proof your talent pipeline? How do companies equip the next generation with the skills to thrive in a challenging ever-changing world?
Industry leaders on “the future of work” will explore these questions and more, and expose the implications of the changing nature of work on the attraction, engagement and retention of key talent in business.
Date: May 21
Time: 5:30-7:30 PM
Location: EY Wavespace | 841 Broadway (Union Square)
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Thank you for reading this month's Policy Update. If you have any feedback or comments,
BritishAmerican Business provides the official policy support to the British-American Business Council (BABC). With that, BAB Policy work supports and represents more than 20 chapters and their members in major business centres throughout the UK and North America.
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