Norway CDCS

Marking the First Anniversary of Launching the U.S.-Norway Comprehensive Dialogue for Commerce and Sustainability

On November 17, 2023, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago and her Norwegian counterpart, State Secretary for Trade and Industry Tore Sandvik, signed a Memorandum of Understanding launching the U.S.-Norway Comprehensive Dialogue for Commerce and Sustainability (CDCS). Since then, the United States International Trade Administration (ITA) in cooperation with the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries has delivered notable programs and successes —from the U.S. Commercial Service providing direct counseling to U.S. exporters about opportunities in Norway, to collaborating with other U.S. government agencies, U.S. states, and industry to attract foreign direct investment from Norway.

The CDCS is a dialogue between the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries, aimed at highlighting and encouraging trade and investment opportunities and commercial cooperation. The CDCS addresses a range of U.S. and Norwegian trade and investment issues, with a focus on exchanging information and exploring opportunities for commercial cooperation to advance the green transition, including to increase energy security and strengthen global supply chain resilience. The second CDCS meeting was held in Oslo, on June 7, 2024.

Cooperation and exchange of information under the CDCS has assisted ITA in playing a crucial role in commercial diplomacy and trade and investment promotion – bilaterally and regionally. Since launching the CDCS, ITA has organized successful industry roundtables in support of the CDCS in Washington, D.C. and Oslo with a special focus on critical emerging technologies and sectors related to the green transition (such as offshore wind, advanced batteries, critical minerals, clean hydrogen, carbon management, and maritime). ITA has also counseled and assisted more than 150 U.S. companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), seeking opportunities in Norway in these strategic industries as well as in aerospace and defense. For example, at the Department of Commerce’s Discover Global Markets program, the U.S. Commercial Service in Norway presented to wide audiences based in New York, Alabama, Florida, and Illinois, and led a total of 60 one-on-one meetings with U.S. exporters interested in the Norwegian market. Additionally, ITA has helped more than 30 Norwegian companies with their U.S. expansion plans and continues to engage Norwegian companies seeking to invest in clean energy and green technology.

ITA supports U.S. companies seeking to do business in Norway, including SMEs. Our efforts include organizing trade and investment missions in strategic sectors that will help spur innovation, contribute to economic growth and job creation, advance the green transition, and address the climate and energy security challenges faced by the United States and Norway. Finally, collaboration under the CDCS also has included exchanging information and views on key regional issues impacting trade and investment and commercial cooperation between the United States and Norway.