Chambers push for transatlantic trade

Chambers push for transatlantic trade    The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its counterpart in Europe are asking leaders at this week's U.S.-European Union Summit to use the meetings to improve transatlantic trade.
   The U.S. Chamber and Eurochambres (the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry), released a joint survey of members that showed they believe regulatory impediments discourage trade.
   The U.S. Chamber noted 90 percent of its members have small businesses with less than 100 employees, and at that level, business owners listed local European rules and procedures and overall EU regulatory burdens as the top barriers to increasing their business in Europe. Their European counterparts reported concerns over U.S. entry requirements for business travelers and visas and the threat of frivolous lawsuits against companies.
   The U.S. Chamber and its partners in Europe have called for a barrier-free transatlantic market, with regulatory cooperation and compatibility, legal system reforms, and a convergence of U.S. and European accounting standards. They are also seeking a joint U.S.-EU strategy for protecting intellectual property rights.