1st July: Statement of USTR Rob Portman Regarding Today's Extension of Trade Promotion Authority and the U.S. Trade Agenda
"This has been a terrific month for the U.S. trade agenda. Today, the extension of Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) became final, showing Congressional support for U.S. economic leadership and participation in the global trading system.
Full details at: http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/July/Statement_of_USTR_Rob_Portman_Regarding_Today's_Extension_of_Trade_Promotion_Authority_the_U.S._Trade_Agenda.html

5th July Secretary Condoleezza Rice’s Remarks With French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy After Meeting,Washington, DC
Condoleezza Rice discussed with the French Foreign Minister: the Lebanon; the Middle East peace process; issues concerning Europe and the Balkans, in particular Kosovo; counterterrorism cooperation; and a number of other issues as well.
Full details at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/48932.htm,
and at:http://www.info-france-usa.org/news/statmnts/2005/blazy_rice070505.asp

6th July: President Bush and Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen Discuss G8, Africa, Denmark
Full details at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050706-3.html

12th July: Honorary CBE awarded To Carl Davis
The American Carl Davis has been awarded a CBE in recognition for his services to music.
Further details at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391638&a=KArticle&aid=1119521742610

12th July: Honorary Knighthood awarded to Curtis Alexander Price
The American Professor Curtis Alexander Price has been made an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in recognition for his services to music.
Further details at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391638&a=KArticle&aid=1119521741733

14th July: Secretary Condoleezza Rice’sRemarks With Portuguese Foreign Minister Diogo Freitas do Amara, Washington, DC
Press conference given after the signing of U.S.-Portugal Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Bilateral Instruments.
Full details at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/49631.htm

14th July: U.S.-Portugal Agreements on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Portuguese Foreign Minister Diogo Freitas do Amaral signed the Agreements on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance.
Full details at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/49632.htm

14th July: Ambassador Robert Holmes Tuttle
Robert Holmes Tuttle was sworn in as Ambassador to the Court of St. James's by Secretary of State Rice.
Short biography at: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/ukamb/tuttlebio.html

15th July: Worldwide Business Visa Centre Opens July 15, 2005
The Business Visa Center assists American businesses by explaining the visa process when they invite employees or current and prospective business clients and partners to the United States.
Details at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/49644.htm

19th July: ITC Releases Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2004
Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2004, an annual compendium of data and analysis examining changes in trade with key U.S. partners and in crucial U.S. industries, was released today by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).
Full details at: http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2005/er0719cc1.htm

20th July: U.S. Senator outlines future of transatlantic relations
In an address on transatlantic relations, U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, laid out his vision for American foreign policy in the 21st century:
Further details at: http://www.gmfus.org/event/detail.cfm?id=81

25th July: The United States and the Republic of Cyprus Proliferation Security Initiative Ship Boarding Agreement
The ship boarding agreement signed by the U.S. and Cyprus will facilitate co-operation between the two countries to prevent the maritime transfer of proliferation-related shipments by establishing points of contact and procedures to expedite requests to board and search suspect vessels in international waters.
Further details at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/50035.htm

29th July: Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has asked Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky to play a leading role in U.S. efforts to foster and strengthen democracy. To reflect the importance that the Administration attaches to this goal, the title of Dr. Dobriansky’s position has been changed to Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs.

EU ISSUES

1st July: Straw / Ferrero-Waldner make Joint Statement on Co-operation during UK Presidency
The UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, met the EU Commissioner for External Relations and the European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, today as part of the UK’s preparations for assuming the Presidency of the EU.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/820&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

4th July: European Commission welcomes US Commitment to Farm Reform
The European Commission today welcomed the apparent willingness shown by US President George W. Bush to overhaul US agricultural subsidies. It hopes that the President’s words, in an interview with ITV1 on the eve of the G8 summit, will be translated into genuine and far-reaching reforms which can find their way through Congress when the US Farm Bill is up for revision in 2007.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/836&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

5th July: Visit to the United States - Press conference given by Philippe Douste-Blazy, Minister of Foreign Affairs (excerpts), Washington
Topics include the Middle East and France/US relations.
Full details at: http://www.info-france-usa.org/news/statmnts/2005/blazy_conf_press070505.asp

6th July: Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood policy The EU and Iraq – A Framework for Engagement speech given at the European Parliament, Strasbourg
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/416&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

6th July: G8 Summit : European Commission President Barroso launches 1 billion Euro aid for trade pledge
The President of the European Commission pledged 1 billion Euro per year to support the trading capacity of developing countries.
Full details: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/862&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

7th July: Accession of Bulgaria and Romania on the right track. A more cautious approach on Turkey
The Committee of the Regions members commented, at their 6-7 July plenary session, on enlargement of the European Union to Romania and Bulgaria and on the progress made by Turkey on the road to accession.
Full Details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=COR/05/72&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

8th July: Concrete recommendations to enhance EU-Turkey dialogue
The 19th meeting of the EU-Turkey Joint Consultative Committee met in Istanbul on 7/8 July, agreeing on a series of recommendations to accompany the accession negotiations.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=CES/05/86&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

13th July: Joint statement of the European Union and the United States on Ethiopia of July 13, 2005
The European Union and the United States commended the Ethiopian people for their peaceful and democratic expression of political will on May 15.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=PESC/05/74&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

13th July: Personnel: the Commission appoints Deputy Director-General for Trade
Mr Karl Friedrich Falkenberg was today appointed Deputy Director-General in the Directorate-General for Trade. Mr Falkenberg will oversee the services responsible for bilateral trade relations and market access for all countries, with the exception of China and Japan. He will also be responsible for industrial trade issues, such as steel, coal, shipbuilding, and chemicals.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/925&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

15th July: The EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental Rights presents its Report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union in 2004
In this year report, which has been submitted to the European Parliament, the Network of Independent Experts examines the legislation and policies of the Union as regards the general situation concerning fundamental rights laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/260&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

19th July: Stavros Dimas, Member of the European Commission, responsible for Environment speech on Climate Change and REACH, at the American Chamber of Commerce in the EU, Brussels
Full speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/453&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

21st July: The Role of Human Rights in Countering Terrorism and Tackling Poverty
UK’s Foreign Office Minister Ian Pearson today launched the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights.
Full details at: http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391638&a=KArticle&aid=1119527930236

TRADE ISSUES

5th July: ITC Will Conduct Full "Sunset" Reviews Concerning Brass Sheet and Strip From Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will conduct full five-year ("sunset") reviews concerning the countervailing duty orders on imports of brass sheet and strip from France and the antidumping duty orders on imports of brass sheet and strip from France, Germany, Italy.
Full details at: http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2005/er0705cc3.HTM

13th July: Mergers: Commission clears Blackstone’s take-over of Acetex
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Canadian chemicals company Acetex by the US based merchant-banking firm Blackstone.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/922&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

15th July:Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Gillette by Procter & Gamble subject to conditions
The European Commission has cleared under the EC Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Gillette by Procter & Gamble, both based in the US.
Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/955&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

20th July: Mergers: Commission approves joint acquisition of 23 Le Meridien hotels by Lehman Brothers, SCG and Starwood
The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of 23 Le Meridien hotels, by the US firms Lehman Brothers, Starwood Capital Group (SCG) and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide (Starwood). Full Details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/996&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en



Note: If you have any comments or if you wish to include any items for inclusion in future newsletters please e-mail me at:
duncan.ritchie@americaneuropeaninstitute.com