The European Liberal Forum will host the Ralf Dahrendorf Roundtable “Taking Charge of Transatlantic Trade: The EU as a global leader” on 21 March, from 17:30 to 19:00, in Brussels. Transatlantic trade is a key strategic interest for the EU, with the US accounting for 20% of all EU exports and 14% of the EU’s imports coming from the US. As transatlantic ties are under stress, the EU finds itself in a challenging position. The US is drifting away from the principles of the postwar liberal economic order and this makes it increasingly difficult to maintain constructive trade relations.

However, the disengagement of the US Administration also brings new opportunities. As the US further withdraws into a protectionist position, it is leaving behind a vacuum of economic power. In this context, the EU can further develop its position as the pacesetter in transatlantic and world trade, making the new situation a blessing in disguise.

This raises important questions about the EU’s strategy to deal with this new situation: Is the EU ready to fill the shoes of the US? What can the EU do to develop a more proactive approach towards transatlantic trade relations? And how can the EU still engage constructively with the US in the future?

Venue
BELvue Museum, Place des Palais 7, 1000 Brussels

Welcome by
Martina Dlabajová MEP | Vice President of the European Liberal Forum

Keynote address by
Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Trade

Discussion with
Prof. Dr. André Sapir | Senior Fellow at Bruegel & University Professor at Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
Marietje Schaake MEP | Member of the European Parliament (D66/ALDE)
Luisa Santos | Director for International Relations BusinessEurope

Moderated by Daniel Kaddik | Executive Director of the European Liberal Forum

Register here: bit.ly/2EhEroE