For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 2, 2002

Fact Sheet: Transatlantic Dialogues

The Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) and the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) help foster dialogue between the United States and the European Commission and business and civil society.

Transatlantic Business Dialogue

• The TABD is a private organization comprised of American and European companies that seeks to increase and liberalize transatlantic trade.

• Since its launch in 1995, the TABD has worked to remove inefficiencies caused by excessive regulation, duplication, and differences in the U.S. and the EU regulatory systems and procedures.

• TABD also works to enhance cooperation between the U.S. and the EU on global trade issues.

• TABD's 2002 priorities center on regulatory reform and transparency. Throughout the year, the TABD will provide both governments with the transatlantic business community's perspectives on the WTO, the networked economy, capital markets, regulatory policy, and dispute management.

• The TABD will be represented at the Summit by Lenard Lauder, Chairman, Estee Lauder Companies, and Jean-Pierre Rodier, CEO of Pechiney.

Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue

• The TACD was established in 1998 to develop closer relations between American and European consumer groups.

• The TACD's 65-member groups (20 American) forge common positions on issues including openness and transparency, international trade, food safety, health and access to medicines in developing countries, as well as e-commerce.

• The TACD will be represented at the Summit by Ed Mierzwinski, Director of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and Benedicte Federspiel, Director of the Danish Consumer Council (Forbrugerradet).

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