Ref. Ares(2020)3731150 - 15/07/2020
Commissioner Thierry Breton
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 200
1049 Brussels
Belgium
Brussels, 17 April 2020
Re: Call for a coordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis with regard to defining critical
infrastructure and maintaining global supply chains Dear Commissioner Breton,
We are writing to you on behalf of the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union
(AmCham EU) to voice our support for the European Commission’s actions to tackle the COVID-19
pandemic, and to encourage your continued efforts to ensure that there is a strong and coordinated
response at EU level.
As Member States are preparing to lift certain confinement measures, we remain acutely aware that
we are facing an unprecedented public health and socio-economic emergency. Now more than ever,
strong cooperation between public authorities, the business community and civil society will be
essential in finding pragmatic and innovative solutions to our shared challenges.
AmCham EU represents over 150 companies of American parentage committed to and invested in
Europe. Our member companies are facing new challenges as they adapt to the current circumstances.
During this time, we believe that clarity is essential to minimise any disruptions in the production and
delivery of critical products and services. Our companies operate in a large variety of sectors, many of
which are affected by the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 crisis. We welcome the European
Commission’s efforts in providing the EU with a comprehensive roadmap towards gradually lifting
COVID-19 containment measures. However, as we strive to continue cooperating with the EU
Institutions and Member States, we call on the European Commission to continue its work in
addressing the following priority issues:
• Our member companies’ main concern is maintaining a reliable supply of products and
services necessary to benefit European citizens and the economy. We therefore
call on the
European Commission to take all the necessary actions to ensure that global supply chains
remain open and to refrain from and prevent any protectionist tendencies. The EU Member
States should implement a consistent and clear strategy to ensure the uninterrupted flow of
goods and services, both within the Single Market and with our biggest trading partners such
as the United States. As an example, the current unilateral restrictions on the movement of
pharmaceuticals, medical devices and personal protective equipment (whether it is from
factories or wholesale international hubs) as well as stockpiling requests from certain Member
States, are putting at risk the overall delivery to those countries worst hit by the pandemic.
These trade restrictive measures also increase the risk of retaliation by Europe’s trading
partners, threatening to worsen the situation for European patients, citizens and the
economy.
American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union
Avenue des Arts/Kunstlaan 53, 1000 Brussels, Belgium •
T +32 2 513 68 92
Speaking for American business in Europe
xxxx@xxxxxxxx.xx • amchameu.eu • European Transparency Register: 5265780509-97