Paris, France – This week, Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) Chair Reta Jo Lewis delivered remarks during the International Economic Forum of the Americas’ (IEFA) Conference of Paris and met with industry leaders in the pharmaceutical, finance, and renewable energy sectors. Over the course of the week, Chair Lewis highlighted EXIM’s efforts to promote U.S. technologies that can reduce emissions and support U.S. jobs.
In remarks during a panel titled, “Scaling Lower Carbon Economies at Speed,” Chair Lewis said that EXIM more than doubled its investments in clean energy and environmentally beneficial exports, growing from $1.1 billion in FY23 to a record $2.3 billion in FY2024. Additionally, following a discussion on artificial intelligence during the IEFA’s Annual Board of Governors meeting, Chair Lewis shared the importance of partnerships to foster innovation within sectors that are critical to national and global security and trade.
During the Conference of Paris Chair Lewis met with Mairead Lavery, President and CEO of Export Development Canada, and David Schwimmer, CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group. She also met with Cosmin Ghita, CEO of Nuclearelectrica, a partially state-owned Romanian nuclear energy company, where she shared how EXIM has supported nuclear energy projects including a $98 million loan for RoPower Nuclear S.A. in Romania. The financing provided through EXIM’s Engineering Multiplier Program (EMP) is being used to support pre-project services that are needed to develop a small modular reactor (SMR).
Chair Lewis also addressed Jolt Capital’s Annual LPs and CEOs meeting and outlined what EXIM is doing to support transformational export areas. During her remarks, Chair Lewis reaffirmed the United States’ deep ties to France, and reiterated how EXIM is focused on supporting deals with European companies and Jolt partners. Chair Lewis emphasized the critical role of public-private partnerships in financing key export areas.
 
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On 27 November 2024, in a speech to the European Parliament, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced her decision to convene a Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry in Europe. The Dialogue will be officially launched already in January 2025, with a view to swiftly proposing and implementing measures the sector urgently needs.
Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “The automotive industry is a European pride and is crucial for Europe’s prosperity. It drives innovation, supports millions of jobs, and is the largest private investor in research and development. Each sector has unique needs, and it is our responsibility to tailor solutions that are both clean and competitive. We need to support this industry in the deep and disruptive transition ahead. And we must ensure that the future of cars remains firmly rooted in Europe. This is why I have called for a Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Car Industry. We will launch this Dialogue already in January, to shape together our shared future.”
As the European automotive and supplier industry goes through a deep and disruptive transition, the Strategic Dialogue will design concrete strategies and solutions to support the global competitiveness of automotive manufacturing in Europe. It will focus in particular on:

boosting data-driven innovation and digitalisation, based on forward-looking technologies such as AI and autonomous driving.
supporting the sector’s decarbonisation, in an open technological approach, given its role in achieving Europe’s ambitious climate goals.
addressing jobs, skills, and other social elements in the sector.

simplifying and modernizing the regulatory framework.

increasing demand, strengthening the financial resources of the sector and its resilience and value chain in an increasingly competitive international environment.

The Strategic Dialogue brings together key stakeholders from across the industry, including European automotive companies, infrastructure providers, trade unions and business associations, as well as parts of the automotive value chain and other stakeholders.
The formal launch, under the President’s personal leadership, will be followed by a series of thematic meetings, chaired by Members of the College.
These meetings will result in a set of recommendations that help build a holistic EU strategy for the sector to manage the various challenges and where needed adapt the applicable EU regulatory framework accordingly. Summit meetings, led by the President, will check on progress made and give the necessary political impulses for further work.
The Council and European Parliament will be closely involved in the process and will be regularly informed and consulted on the Dialogue.
For more information, please contact:

Paula Pinho, Chief Spokesperson, EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Arianna Podesta, Deputy Chief Spokesperson, EUROPEAN COMMISSION

 
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Bipartisan legislation will modernize the EDA and other regional commissions whose mission is to spur economic growth in communities across the country
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) celebrates its historic reauthorization by Congress, allowing it to continue its legacy of promoting American innovation and competitiveness by providing grants and support to communities across the country. Since 1965, EDA has led some of the nation’s most impactful programs to strengthen public works and infrastructure, job creation and workforce development, disaster recovery, and technology and industry advancement. EDA has not been formally reauthorized since 2004.
“Reauthorization will allow EDA to continue meeting its mission of ensuring communities across the country have the resources they need to expand economic opportunity, invest in innovation, and recover from disasters. This bipartisan support from Congress will allow EDA to evolve, modernize, and provide the services that communities across the nation need to build resilient, thriving local economies,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “EDA’s investments have helped countless communities invest in their local workers and businesses, and reauthorization means they will continue creating and saving jobs, and bringing new investment to every corner of our country.”
From the period of January 2021 through November 2024, EDA was responsible for directing nearly $6 billion in investments in 3,393 awards across nearly every state and federal territory. These projects are creating or saving more than 554,700 jobs and generating more than $67.7 billion in private investment. These investments include hundreds of construction projects, creating thousands of good-paying jobs that modernize American infrastructure and support long-term, resilient economic growth.
“The country has changed since EDA was last authorized, with new industries, new challenges, and the residual impacts of a global pandemic and the rising intensity of natural disasters. Over the last 20 years, EDA has evolved to ensure its programs make America’s communities more competitive, resilient, and secure. This reauthorization legislation will allow EDA to continue to meet the moment for generations to come,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Cristina Killingsworth.
Key benefits of EDA’s reauthorization include:

Strengthening Tools to Support EDA’s Role in Job Creation and Placement: 

Codifies EDA’s role in establishing industry-led workforce training partnerships that invest in innovative approaches to workforce development that will secure job opportunities for Americans.
Aligns EDA to better support other key Department of Commerce priorities, including:

Supply Chain and Manufacturing: including elements of The ONSHORE Act for prospective site development in industries with national security implications
Broadband: Modernizes EDA’s ability to deliver broadband projects via inclusion of the E-BRIDGE Act

Modernizing EDA’s Authorities for Critical Grants and Resource Delivery

Establishes the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience: EDA is uniquely positioned to coordinate federal support for regional disaster recovery efforts in partnership with its extensive network of Economic Development Districts (EDDs), University Centers, and other stakeholders in designated impact areas.
Adds and modernizes eligibility criteria considerations, allowing for the consideration of additional key statistical factors to support grantmaking.

Improving EDA Operational Efficiency and Transparency

Codifies an EDA definition of pre-development enabling EDA to provide assistance to distressed communities to prepare for much larger infrastructure investments in the future.
Permanently enacts EDA’s disaster hiring authority enabling it to quickly respond to meet the needs of future disasters.
Formalizes the relationship between EDA and Regional Commissions, increasing efficacy of regional programs.

EDA’s reauthorization is a critical component of the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, which passed with bipartisan support in Congress.
“EDA is driving our nation’s job growth, building resilient supply chains, and investing in our local economies. Reauthorizing the EDA will give this critical agency the tools and resources it needs to better support local businesses and organizations and equip our communities with climate-resilient infrastructure, in turn strengthening both local and regional job creation and our competitiveness abroad,” said EPW Chairman Senator Tom Carper in a previous statement.
“This reauthorization will help the EDA carry out its mission to drive investment, create jobs, and grow our local economies, particularly in rural states like mine of West Virginia. I appreciate Chairman Carper, Senator Cramer, and Senator Kelly for joining in this effort to reauthorize the EDA,” said EPW Ranking Member Senator Shelley Moore Capito
“I am proud to have helped negotiate this package to reauthorize the Economic Development Administration and recognize the importance of tourism and outdoor recreation for economic development…,” said Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Representative Dina Titus in a previous statement.
“This measure also includes important provisions to reauthorize and modernize federal economic development programs…. I want to thank Ranking Member Rick Larsen, Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer, Subcommittee Ranking Member Grace Napolitano, as well as Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito in the Senate, for their hard work in developing and negotiating this final measure,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves in a previous statement.
“…I applaud today’s passage of the Water Resources Development of 2024… “This legislation also includes provisions to grow the economy and create jobs by reauthorizing the Economic Development Administration…T&I Democrats remain focused on delivering good-paying jobs and safer, cleaner, greener and more accessible transportation for all Americans,” said Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Representative Rick Larsen. 
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
 
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Cash most frequently used payment method in stores, although use has continued to decline
Share of digital payment instruments continues to increase in value terms, with cards still dominant and share of mobile apps on the rise
Majority of consumers value having option to pay with cash

The European Central Bank (ECB) today published the results of the latest study on the payment attitudes of consumers in the euro area (SPACE). Despite the trend towards digital payments, the number of cash payments remains significant in 2024, especially for small-value and person-to-person payments.
In terms of number of payments, cash is used at the point of sale in 52% of transactions, down from 59% in 2022. In terms of value, cards are the most dominant payment instrument (with a share of 45%, down from 46%), followed by cash (39%, down from 42%) and mobile apps (7%, up from 4%).
The growing share of digital payments is supported by an increase in online payments; these account for 21% of consumers’ day-to-day payments in number and 36% in value, up from 17% and 28% respectively in 2022. The most frequently used instrument for online payments is cards, accounting for 48% of transactions, followed by other electronic means of payment such as payment wallets and mobile apps, which together accounted for 29% of transactions.
Consumers’ stated payment preferences have not changed. In 2024 as in 2022, 55% of consumers prefer paying with cards and other non-cash means in shops, 22% prefer paying with cash and 23% have no clear preference. On average, consumers deem cards faster and easier to use. They consider cash more helpful for managing their expenses and protecting their privacy.
A majority of consumers (62% in 2024, up from 60% in 2022) consider it important to have cash as a payment option. And a large majority (87%) are satisfied with their access to cash, finding it very or fairly easy to withdraw cash from an ATM or a bank, even though satisfaction decreased slightly (down from 89% in 2022).
Executive Board member Piero Cipollone reaffirmed the ECB’s commitment to protecting consumers’ freedom to pay as they choose. “We are dedicated to ensuring secure, efficient and inclusive payment options. By supporting both cash and the development of a digital euro, we want to guarantee people can always choose to pay with public money, now and in the future.”
 
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