U.S. - European Trade: A Long-Standing Relationship Challenged by New Opportunities and Markets in the East

November 16, 2006

Historically, the United States and Europe have had a longstanding business relationship. The Netherlands provided the first loan to the fledgling United States after independence and that relationship remains strong several hundred years on. Now these two traditional economic powerhouses are increasingly attracted to other partners and markets - notably China and India - which to do business with and in and explore new opportunities.

Do these new opportunities strain the traditional relationship?
Do the new opportunities enhance the relationship?
Do they present a threat to the economies of Europe and the United States?

The Netherland-America Foundation Dutch Chicago Business Exchange is pleased to host a distinguished panel of business leaders that will address these issues for our members and guests. After the panel discussion, we invite you to meet our panelists in a reception and speak with them informally.

Joost Kuiper sits on the Executive Board of ABN AMRO and is responsible for the United States operations of the bank and is Chairman of the Group Business Committee (GBC). The GBC drives coordination across all of the Client and Product Business units within ABN AMRO.

Paul Zeven is the Chief Executive Officer of Philips North America. Prior to his current position, Mr. Zeven was Chief Executive Officer for Philips Consumer Electronics in Latin America and has also held senior positions for Philips in the Asia Pacific region.

Lex van Hessen is the majority stockholder of Van Hessen BV, which is one of the largest companies in the world specializing in the processing, manufacture and distribution of natural sausage casings used by sausage makers all over the globe, including in the United States and Europe. The Van Hessen Group has a longstanding presence in China starting in the early 1960s and continues to the present as one of the few Western businesses with a 100% owned subsidiary in Shanghai.

Bill Testa is Vice President and Director of Regional Programs in the Economic Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Mr. Testa has written extensively in the area of economic development programs, the Midwest economy and state-local public finance. He directed a comprehensive long term study and forecast of the Midwest economy: Assessing the Midwest Economy: Looking Back for the Future.

Carl Tannenbaum, Senior Vice President/Chief Economist of LaSalle Bank Corporation, will be moderating the panel and discussion. Mr. Tannenbaum is the Chief Economist for LaSalle Bank Corporation. In this capacity, Mr. Tannenbaum provides internal and external briefings on business conditions. He serves as a quote contact for a number of publications and provides commentary on business issues for CNBC, CNN, and other media outlets. Mr. Tannenbaum is a member of the Blue Chip panel of economic forecasters and is President of the National Association for Business Economics

Date and Time
Thursday, November 16, 2006
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Arrival
4:00 - 5:15 p.m. Symposium
5:15 - 7:15 p.m. Cocktail Reception

Location
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
230 South LaSalle
Chicago, IL 60604

Admission
Members
Seminar and Reception - No Charge

Non-members
Seminar and Reception - $30
Reception only - No Charge

Please bring photo ID

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