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NTA Accomplishments Under the Irish Presidency, June-December 1996

Released by the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, December 13, 1996

The U.S. and the EU have sought to translate a wide range of U.S.-EU goals into accomplishments in the priority areas identified by the NTA. The emphasis remains focused on tangible, concrete accomplishments. Over the past six months, the U.S. and the EU have made significant progress on key initiatives.

Intensified Diplomatic Cooperation

• Support for peace and reconstruction in Bosnia.
• Sustained support for the Middle East Peace Process.
• A joint response to the humanitarian tragedy in Central Africa.

Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System;
Building the Transatlantic Marketplace

• Cooperation at the WTO Singapore Ministerial on the Information Technology Agreement, eliminating tariffs in this key sector by 2000.
• Agreement in principle on mutual recognition of certification and testing of products covering more than $40 billion of trade in sectors such as telecommunications and electrical products.
• Completing work on a Customs Mutual Cooperation and Assistance Agreement.

Coordinating U.S.-EU Global Assistance

• Support for democracy in Nicaragua and Benin; assistance for the new Haitian Government.
• Establishing a network of regional environmental centers in the New Independent States.

Fighting Crime, Narcotics, Proliferation, and Disease

• Cooperation against drug trafficking in the Caribbean, addressing regional law enforcement capabilities, marine interdiction, training, and intelligence sharing.
• Building a global surveillance and response network against communicable diseases.

Strengthening Transatlantic Linkages

• Engaging our business communities through the Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) in moving forward our trade agenda and building support for our relationship.
• Negotiating a Science and Technology Agreement.
• Promoting closer relations among our foreign affairs agencies through staff exchange.

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