The European Commission convened a Civil Society Dialogue on 15 April 2026 titled “EU-US trade relations – State-of-play and outlook” to brief stakeholders on the latest developments in EU-US trade relations and discuss next steps. The event was held in a hybrid format, with participation via Webex and in person at the Berlaymont (Jean Rey room).
According to the Commission, the meeting aimed to inform participants about recent developments in EU-US trade relations, including progress on implementing the EU-US Joint Statement of 21 August 2025. The Commission also emphasized that the EU-US trade and investment relationship remains “the biggest in the world” and is highly important for firms, consumers and citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.
The event page notes that work under the Joint Statement continues on tariff issues, non-tariff issues, and emerging areas such as critical minerals and economic security. The Commission planned to present these developments in the context of a rapidly changing global environment and to hold an open discussion with civil society stakeholders.
The lead speaker listed was Matthias Jorgensen, Acting Director for the Americas, Agriculture and Food Safety at DG Trade and Economic Security. The agenda covered an introduction, an update on EU-US trade relations and Joint Statement implementation, followed by an open stakeholder discussion.
Practical information on participation included a registration deadline of 9 April (12:00), use of a new registration system, and advance connection checks for Webex participants. For in-person participants, the Commission asked attendees to arrive 30 minutes early for security screening and badge issuance, bringing their V-pass confirmation and ID. The page also noted that travel cost reimbursement may be requested for organizations based outside Brussels, up to three times per year.
