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May 201
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EDA Office of Foreign Trade • Riverside County, California • USA •
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On a very hot day in Sacramento in
early July, I was honored to convene
the Senate Select Committee on
California-European Trade with a stated
objective of identifying trade barriers
for European companies seeking entry
into the California marketplace.
The Consul Generals of Belgium,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Italy, Switzerland and Britain
provided important testimony
regarding immigration and visas
as well as California’s onerous
regulatory environment.
Representing the European private
sector, the Committee also heard expert
testimony from Dr. Lucie Merkle from
the Bavarian U.S. Office for Economic
Development, Anselm Bossacoma
from the Government of Catalonia,
Colin Brown from the British American
Business Council and immigration
attorney Michael Ryvin of E&M Mayock.
The representatives of the Benelux had a
number of recommendations for federal,
state and local measures to attract
European investment in California. On a
federal level, they offered that European-
California business would benefit
from continued
and the
abolishment of non-tariff trade barriers.
In terms of local initiatives, the Benelux
Consuls called for a single point of entry
for permits and the reduction of red tape.
Consul General Mauro Battocchi
of Italy and Consul General Julius
Anderegg of Switzerland testified
about the regulatory challenges faced
by companies seeking to expand their
California presence in the research
and development area relative to
renewable energy and pharmaceuticals.
Senate Select Committee Convenes
Hearing On Trade Barriers
Her Majesty’s Counsul General Priya
Guha led her panel’s discussion
about the inconsistent and difficult
process executives from Great Britain
face when seeking a visa. Ms. Fiona
Francois representing UK Trade and
Investment was joined by Mr. Brown
in presenting detailed economic data
relative to UK trade and investment and
how further expansion is hindered by
the immigration process. According
to immigration attorney Michael
Ryvin, this process can take upwards
of a year and a half to resolve.
Our own Tom Freeman concluded
the hearing alongside Dr. Merkle and
Mr. Bossacoma in discussing some
of the success stories of California-
European trade and the impact on
job creation in our communities.
As California’s economy begins to
recover, it’s crucial that we continue
to build on these relationships
and work with other countries to
encourage businesses to invest
and create jobs in our state.
Senator Bill Emmerson Chair of The Senate Select Committee on California-European Trade.
