USA

German-American economic relations are a particularly important part of BDI`s work. The USA are Germany`s most important economic partner outside the EU. BDI is working continually to enhance access to the US market.

The USA is responsible for some 8% of German exports and approx. 30% of german foreign investment. The USA and Europe are also the largest economic regions in the world. They jointly generate around 60% of the global gross national product and represent 70% of worldwide direct investment.

In addition, Germany and the EU must take the USA into account when formulating international economic policies. BDI is working continually to enhance access to the US market, above all for Germany`s small businesses. BDI also strives to improve conflict management in a transatlantic context. BDI recommends strongly the enhancing of the transatlantic economic integration. BDI has supported the establishment of the Transatlantic Economic Coundil (TEC) during the german EU presidency.

The Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT) ensures the continued representation of German business interests in Washington. In order to ensure a continuous dialogue with policy-makers and businesses, BDI President Dr.-Ing. Hans-Peter Keitel and BDI`s Director General Dr. Werner Schnappauf pay annual visits to Washington along with other representatives from BDI member associations.

BDI employs several instruments to pursue a dialogue on eonomic policy with US business and policy-makers:

• US Board of the BDI (chaired by BDI president Dr.-Ing. Hans-Peter Keitel)
• BDI USA working group (chaired by Dr. Arend Oetker, BDI Vize President and Managing Partner of the Arend Oetker Holding GmbH & Co.)
• US-German Round Table (USGRT)
• Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT)