Ref. Ares(2015)312990 - 27/01/2015
Ref. Ares(2018)158753 - 10/01/2018
Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue
An Executive Advisory Group within the Trans-Atlantic Business Council (TABC)
January 26, 2015
Commissioner Cecilia Malmström
Directorate-General Trade
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 170
B-1049 Brussels BELGIUM
Dear Commissioner Malmström:
On behalf of our TABD chairs, I wanted to thank you for joining us in Davos last Friday to explain
the “Fresh Start” and the possible timeline for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
(TTIP). As you know, such an agreement has been a long time objective of the TABD, and we
have been encouraged by the energy, openness, knowledge, and political instincts which you have
very quickly brought to this enormously important exercise. We acknowledge and agree with your
point that the business community needs to do more to educate both the business community,
other interested parties, and the broader public about this possible agreement. We intend to assist
in that process, and I’ve attached a summary of our efforts to date.
During our internal discussion at the latter part of the meeting, we announced that José Manuel
González-Páramo will be serving as our new TABD Europe Chair. He replaces Hans Stråberg,
and I will make sure that we arrange a meeting for him with you during one his Brussels trips.
I’ve attached the announcement press release, which will provide some background information
on José Manuel.
We look forward to having you join the Business Alliance for TTIP at a welcoming reception next
Monday evening at the Free Bavarian delegation. The turnout is expected to be quite large.
We wish you great success in concluding the many trade negotiations now engaged in by the
EU, and look forward to working with you on bringing the TTIP to a successful conclusion.
Sincerely,
[Art.4.1(b)]
Tim Bennett
CC: José Manuel González-Páramo
Hendrike Kuehl
Brussels & Washington
www.transatlanticbusiness.org/tabd