U.S. and Europe boost chemical cooperation

Abstract

Cooperation between the U.S. and Europe be boosted in more than 150 policy areas—many affecting the chemical industry and environmental protection—by a pact signed last week in Madrid. At a summit meeting, U.S. and European Union (EU) leaders adopted a political declaration, the New Transatlantic Agenda, and a 21-page action plan to implement it. The agenda has broad goals, including promoting peace and democracy, responding to global challenges, and expanding world trade. But the pact also calls for the U.S. and EU to cooperate on exchanging information and reporting on global environmental issues—such as climate change, biodiversity, and stratospheric ozone depletion. In addition, the countries promise to reduce land-based sources of marine pollution and to encourage sustainable management of forests. Specifically affecting the chemical industry is a provision that the U.S. and EU will work together to exchange ... sensitive information for the preclearance of shipments of essential and precurso...