European Commission Seeks Comments on Regulatory Cooperation With US

The European Commission is seeking comments on “potential areas for regulatory cooperation” between the EU and the U.S. stemming from a trade agreement reached between the two sides in July 2018, the commission said in a notice. The commission is seeking feedback on three main categories, including “conformity assessment,” which asks for input on any barriers or administrative burdens faced by exporters in trans-Atlantic trade. The second category, “dialogue on standards,” asks for comments about creating trade “standards ... where no standards exist yet,” such as “robotics and technical textiles.” The commission added that cooperation in this area “could bring trade benefits,” such as a reduction in adaptation costs for exporters. The third category, “regulatory cooperation in sectors,” asks for suggestions on “concrete initiatives for regulatory cooperation in sectors with the potential of facilitating bilateral trade.” All comments should be made in written submissions to the European Commission and will be made public, the notice said. Comments must be submitted by April 23.