Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs Manisha Singh met with Icelandic Foreign Minister Gudlaugur Thordarson today in Washington, D.C., to further enhance the countries’ already strong bilateral economic and strategic relationship.
The U.S. participants in today’s meeting included Acting Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Nathan Sales; Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper; Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Kevin E. Moley; Senior Official for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Michelle Giuda; and Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Maureen Cormack. Members of the Icelandic delegation included Political Advisor to the Foreign Minister Borgar Thor Einarsson, Ambassador Bergdis Ellertsdottir, Deputy Head of Mission Hreinn Palsson, and Counselor Una Johannsdottir.
At the meeting, participants expressed their commitment to the strong partnership between the United States and Iceland, a relationship now in its 75th year. They discussed ways to continue to foster the robust relationship of our two growing economies. The United States is Iceland’s largest single trading partner – overall trade in 2017 topped $800 million.
The meeting followed up Assistant Secretary Singh’s participation in the inaugural United States-Iceland Economic Dialogue, held in Iceland on June 6-8. The Economic Dialogue is a formal framework to strengthen bilateral economic ties, advance shared global priorities, and renew U.S. economic engagement with an important ally.
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