Ambassador Sherman Begins TTIP Campaign in Alentejo with Harley Ride

Ambassador Sherman and Embaixatriz Kim Sawyer on a Harley-Davidson. (Photo: US Embassy Lisbon)
Ambassador Sherman and Embaixatriz Kim Sawyer on a Harley-Davidson.

On September 21-22, Ambassador Sherman kicked off a series of travels through Portugal in a campaign to raise visibility of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). On September 21, the first day of the trip, the Ambassador joined over 300 Harley-Davidson riders in an annual ride, this year beginning in Évora and stopping in Herdade do Vale do Sabroso, in the Alentejo region. At Herdade do Vale do Sabroso, the Ambassador and his wife Kim Sawyer were able to meet with fellow riders and view many models of Harley-Davidson motorcycles on display.

On the second day of the trip, the Ambassador had the opportunity to visit small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) like Quinta do Zambujeiro, a quality wine and olive oil producer that just started exporting to the U.S. this year. The Ambassador then visited Dimpomar, a marble producer that has exported to the U.S. for years. In Elvas, the Ambassador attended a roundtable hosted by Elvas Mayor Mocinha, with participation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs State Secretary for European Affairs Bruno Maçães, AICEP Executive Director Pedro Pessoa e Costa, the Mayor of Badajoz, Spain Francisco Martinez, the President of the Business Association of Elvas Nelson Pestana, CEO and Founder of Delta Cafés Rui Nabeiro, and many other business men and women from the region. Before leaving Alentejo, the Ambassador had the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Delta Cafés Museum and factory and Adega Mayor Winery.

At each stop, the Ambassador asked about the challenges businesses face in exporting to the U.S., and heard how reduced tariffs and mutually-recognized regulations from TTIP would help these Portuguese businesses access U.S. markets. The Ambassador’s initiative to visit businesses in different regions of the country aims to promote TTIP while explaining how Portugal would benefit from increased trade and investment with the United States, including in terms of competitiveness and creation of jobs. The initiative will also give the Ambassador a greater understanding of the vast range of Portuguese businesses and innovation, as well as a greater appreciation of the beautiful landscapes and diverse culture of Portugal.