The TransAtlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) offers a framework for cooperation between the transatlantic business community and the governments of the European Union (EU) and United States of America (US).
It is an informal process whereby European and American companies and business associations develop joint EU-US trade policy recommendations, working together with the European Commission and US Administration.
Formally, it is a coalition of U.S. and European CEOs, largely from transnational corporations, launched at the urging of former United States Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown in Seville (Spain) in late 1995 at a conference attended by CEOs from more than 100 U.S. and EU companies and by top government representatives led by the Commissioners for Trade and Industry and by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
The major goal of the TABD is to boost transatlantic trade and investment through the removal of barriers caused by regulatory differences. The TABD is co-chaired by a U.S. and an EU CEO, currently from Deloitte and Heitkamp & Thumann AG. TABD promotes its policy statements and recommendations through formal meetings with the EU and US government and parliament people, giving the members direct access to high-level talks with the leading figures for efficient lobbying. TABD Membership is by invitation only, officially to secure a proper geographical representation and a mix of sector activities as well as SME representation.
TABD policy issues are driven by TABD members, and working groups are organized where necessary. TABD publishes semi-annual reports documenting governmental responses to TABD proposals and identifying new proposals.
Its latest achievement has been success in its unique role as official business advisor to the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC).