The United States and the European Union enjoy the largest economic relationship in the world - with almost $2 trillion in combined bilateral trade and investment. Working to ensure that European integration is a success for American business, US&FCS at the U.S. Mission to the European Union (CSEU) anticipates and responds to the needs of U.S. exporters, especially new-to-export, small and medium sized businesses, as well as U.S. businesses already operating in the EU. We work with U.S. industry to identify potential market access and trade agreement compliance cases, to attempt solving problems early and to avoid formal dispute settlement escalation. With a staff of 5 officers, 9 local experts we provide counseling, advocacy and specialized research related to:

I. EU technical and legal requirements with which U.S. firms must comply to enter the Single Market or expand their European market presence (i.e., customs; import duty and VAT tax procedures; labeling and packaging requirements; product testing and certification / CE Mark requirements).

II. EU programs whose benefits could result in increased market access for U.S. firms. For example, over the next 5 years, the EU will disburse grants worth over $200 billion to upgrade its environmental, transportation, energy and other infrastructure. CSEU works to ensure that U.S. companies are aware of public procurement and contracting opportunities; receive fair treatment in the procurement process; and that EU procurement rules and regulations do not disadvantage U.S. firms. We also monitor the lending activities of the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Our office focuses on the following market access and compliance issues:

Standards / Regulatory Policy: The strong link between standards and regulatory policy in EU legislation presents competitive challenges to US firms due to the lack of transparency and access in the standards setting process. Our core concerns revolve around process—access, transparency, accountability—and mutual recognition. EU standards and regulations attempt to set the global standard on EU terms and often in a way that harms US commercial interests.

Public Procurement and Contracting: CSEU lends its expertise in EU public procurement policy and regulations to interagency efforts led by USTR to monitor and enforce the EU's WTO Government Procurement Agreement obligations.

Trade Facilitation: As part of an interagency team, CSEU engages the EU on customs-, taxation-, labeling- and product testing / certification-related matters to simplify the processes and procedures necessary to place product on the European market.

Key Sectors: CSEU identifies and evaluates the threats and / or opportunities implicit in proposed EU regulation; works with its business clients to influence the legislative and implementation processes; and councils business clients in the following sectors:

• Energy
• Environment
• Aerospace
• Digital Economy
• Medical and Pharmaceutical
• Seafood
• Chemicals
• Consumer Goods