Andrew Puzder, a businessman known for his pro-business stance, was appointed by US President Donald Trump in 2025. He has now spent fifteen months in Brussels. Despite reports of strained relations, he said US and European companies are in constant contact. Behind the scenes, he said, they discuss upcoming deals, manufacturing plans and supply chain issues, and share concerns about competition from China. Their shared goals are to keep business running, create jobs and preserve prosperity. The media often focus on conflicts, he said, but the cultural and strategic ties are strong, and he does not expect that to change. Relations have been tense over the past two years, from trade disputes to differences on immigration, defence and the regulation of big tech companies. Puzder acknowledged the difficulty but called it a period of necessary change.
He said the world is in a time of transformation, particularly regarding NATO. The US wants Europe to take more responsibility, he explained, not because America plans to withdraw but because it wants Europe to take the initiative. He called this a substantial shift. He added that the US have also come to realise that trade deficits with China and the EU are not sustainable, so trade relationships are evolving. That does not mean ties have been irreparably damaged, he said, but Europe needs to approach these matters from a new perspective. Puzder said President Trump has addressed the issues openly and directly, and that Europe has responded constructively, especially on trade and a stronger commitment within NATO. In the Trump administration's view, reducing regulation should be a priority for Europe. Puzder said the EU tends to regulate extensively and that some seem to believe regulation drives economic growth, which Europe’s economy clearly shows is not the case. He said he believes political changes under way in Europe could have a positive effect on the economy, or at least hopes so.
Puzder was complimentary about Luxembourg. He said the country understands how to attract investment: if investors are given the chance to grow, they will come, and incentives are how to attract them. The EU could learn a great deal from this approach, he said, especially as private investment is lacking in much of the bloc. Space is an area where US-European cooperation, including with Luxembourg, is growing. Puzder said the US is fully committed to the field. He expects some of the new probes, or part of the hardware sent to the Moon for resource extraction and exploration, to come from Europe, which he called a genuinely positive development for the partnership. Asked about expanding local manufacturing, with Goodyear present in Luxembourg since 1951, Puzder was cautious. He said he is not sufficiently familiar with Luxembourg's manufacturing investment climate, but that anyone wanting to invest in Europe would find the country appealing. It has clearly succeeded in attracting companies, he said, and deserves serious consideration. He concluded that the US and Europe remain closely aligned, both culturally and strategically.
Lots of ideas being floated regarding the 1st anniversary of the Drive show, next Tuesday. Ideas welcome! And we took a look at the 'What's on guide' for the weekend.
Three people were injured this morning when two cars and a lorry collided between Godbrange and Heffingen
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