12th EU-U.S. SME Workshop in Birmingham, Alabama Enhances Transatlantic Ties

The workshop was jointly opened by Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Bryant Trick, and European Commission Deputy Director General for DG GROW, Hubert Gambs. The U.S. Export Assistance Center and the Alabama Department of Commerce hosted the event, and it saw the participation of key figures, including Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield.

Organised by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, and the Small Business Administration, in collaboration with the European Commission's Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs, as well as Directorate General for Trade, the EU-U.S. SME Workshop serves as a vital platform for small businesses to engage directly with government officials from the United States, the European Commission, and EU countries. It also facilitates discussions with SMEs and associations from both sides of the Atlantic.

The workshop alternates its location between the United States and the European Union, with the 2022 edition hosted by the EU in Augsburg, Germany. Key topics on the agenda included discussions on advancing global trade leadership through the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council, SME access to finance, developing successful international strategies to drive equitable growth in the EU and the U.S., and exploring trade and investment opportunities between Alabama and the EU.