All posts by Madeleine Brekke

Milliardstøtte via USA-baserte aktører, klart mest til klima

Business News

Støtten til amerikanske aktører fra det norske bistandsbudsjettet er på milliardnivå og har økt betydelig gjennom flere år, viser en gjennomgang Panorama har gjort av støtten. Over 100 forskningsinstitusjoner, tenketanker og andre aktører har mottatt støtte.

Mens mediefokuset i disse dager – i kjølvannet av Rød-Larsen og IPI-saken – er på Utenriksdepartementet, er det Klima- og miljødepartementet som står for de store bistandssummene til amerikanske aktører de siste ti årene, viser gjennomgangen.

Rundt to tredeler av totalbeløpet på 5,6 milliarder kroner de siste ti årene har gått til slike aktører – med et mål om å støtte opp om klima, skog og miljø. Fire av de seks største mottakerne er forskningsinstitusjoner og organisasjoner som arbeider med ulike grønne formål, blant annet prosjekter i regnskogland.

Panoramas undersøkelse av bevilgningene til USA-baserte aktører – herunder forskningsinstitusjoner, tenketanker, ikke-statlige organisasjoner, universiteter og konsulentselskaper – kommer drøyt 13 år etter at Norsk ressurssenter for fredsbygging (Noref) laget en lignende undersøkelse for Utenriksdepartementet i 2012.

Da fant Noref ut at 250 millioner kroner hadde gått til USA-baserte aktører i 2010. Men siden den gang har hverken UD eller KLD etterspurt løpende oversikter over «USA-støtten».

Les hele artikkelen her

U.S. Chamber Welcomes Supreme Court Decision on Tariffs

Business News

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, issued the following statement today on the Supreme Court’s decision to halt tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA):

“The Supreme Court’s decision is welcome news for businesses and consumers. Over the past year, the Chamber has been working with small and midsize businesses around the country that have seen significant cost increases and supply chain disruptions as a result of these tariffs. Swift refunds of the impermissible tariffs will be meaningful for the more than 200,000 small business importers in this country and will help support stronger economic growth this year.

“We encourage the administration to use this opportunity to reset overall tariff policy in a manner that will lead to greater economic growth, larger wage gains for workers, and lower costs for families.”

The Chamber filed an amicus brief in Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc. arguing that the challenged tariffs were enacted in excess of statutory authority and are causing irreparable harm to businesses of all sizes.

View the statement here

Courts allow all five offshore wind projects blocked by Trump to resume construction

Business News, Energy, Government

A federal court on Monday halted the last of five stop work orders issued by the Trump administration in December to block major offshore wind farms, giving the wind energy industry five legal wins in a row over the government.

Reagan appointee Royce Lamberth granted an injunction against the administration’s stop work order against Sunrise Wind, a project that would provide power to New York.

In recent weeks, courts have issued similar injunctions against stop work orders the administration issued to four other projects. Monday’s ruling means that all of the orders issued by the administration in December have been halted and all of the wind farms it aimed to block can keep building.

“With this decision, courts have now consistently rejected the government’s abrupt attempt to halt construction on these fully permitted projects,” said Hillary Bright, executive director of pro-wind group Turn Forward, in a written statement.

The injunction issued Monday is temporary and it does not necessarily mean the project will prevail in the underlying case – though it could be an indication that the judge finds its arguments persuasive.

Read more.

Restauration – the icon of Norwegian expatriate history sets sail from Stavanger

Airline / Travel, Business News, Culture / Lifestyle, Shipping & Offshore

Restauration is an icon of Norwegian emigration history from Norway to the USA, and is considered the beginning of organized emigration where nearly 1/3 of Norway’s population chose to leave their homeland.

A floating icon and monument to remind us of the situation and daily life in Norway 200 years ago. The story of an incredible journey in 1825 from Stavanger to arrival through Hell Gate in New York. A 98-day voyage through several storms in the Atlantic Ocean. 

The reconstructed replica of this ship set sail from Stavanger on July 4th 2025 and will arrive in New York on October 9th 2025.

Learn more and follow the ships journey HERE

Norwegian Government commits to allocating 5 % of GDP to defence-related expenditures

Business News, Government

The Government will invest 5 % of GDP in strengthening Norway’s defence capability and safeguarding people in Norway. ‘The world has become more dangerous and more unpredictable. Europe must shoulder greater responsibility for its own security. We must do more to keep our country secure and safe, and to contribute to our collective security together with our Allies in NATO,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Read the full press release HERE

SLB OneSubsea wins EPC contract for Northern Lights phase-two CO₂ injection

Business News, Energy

(WO) — SLB’s OneSubsea joint venture has secured an engineering, procurement and construction contract from Equinor to deliver the subsea CO₂ injection system for phase two of the Northern Lights project offshore Norway.

The scope covers two new satellite injection units and tie-in equipment, with first hardware deliveries slated for 2026. OneSubsea supplied two similar systems for phase one, completed in 2023.

Northern Lights, owned by TotalEnergies, Shell and Equinor, aims to create the world’s first open-access CO₂ transport and storage chain. Phase two will raise capacity from 1.5 million to a minimum of 5 million tpy and is supported by a Connecting Europe Facility for Energy grant.

Read full story HERE

AmCham Norway statement on US Administration’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs

AmCham News, Government

AmCham Norway regrets the US administration’s recent decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on imported goods. The imposition of a minimum 10% tariff on all countries, with Norway facing 15% and the European Union 20%, represents a significant setback for the principles of free and fair trade that have long underpinned our global economic relationships. This decision undermines the stability and predictability that businesses rely on for growth and innovation.

The introduction of these tariffs poses a substantial threat to the economic stability and growth of businesses not only in Norway, the EU and the US, but across the globe. The transatlantic relationship, valued at $9.5 trillion and historically a cornerstone of global economic prosperity, now faces the risk of erosion. The US administration’s assessment, influenced in part by the 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, should instead encourage collaborative solutions rather than protectionist measures. We urge the administration to reconsider its approach and engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve trade disputes without disrupting supply chains and increasing costs for consumers.

Norway is closely monitoring the situation, while the EU has indicated it is preparing countermeasures, set to be implemented in mid-to-late April if a negotiated solution is not found.

While the April 2 Executive Order includes exemptions for certain goods – such as copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and steel and aluminum products already subject to Section 232 tariffs – the overall impact remains damaging. Rather than imposing new barriers, we advocate for constructive engagement to reach a solution that preserves beneficial transatlantic trade relationships. Additionally, we encourage the pursuit of a comprehensive free trade agreement between Norway and the United States. Such an agreement would not only eliminate trade barriers but also strengthen economic cooperation, fostering continued growth, innovation, and job creation.

By prioritizing open trade, both nations can reinforce the economic ties that have long united them.

AmCham Statement PDF

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide at the Signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on High-Standard, Market-Oriented Trade of Critical Minerals

Business News, Chemicals / Metals, Manufacturing, Trade

Secretary Blinken stated that yesterday’s “signing of this Memorandum of Cooperation demonstrates a shared commitment to economic security in both a timely and tangible way. Developing secure, transparent critical mineral supply chains is essential if we’re going to achieve our global clean energy goals, but it’s also an essential aspect of our national security.”

Read Full Story

Journalist Tasting of American Wines – A Unique 70 Vintage Journey

AmCham News,

Journalist Tasting of American Wines – A Unique 70 Vintage Journey

AmCham and partners recently hosted journalists and Vinmonopolet representatives for a tasting of American wines at Park 29 in Oslo. Member importers Anora, Engelstad, Haugen-Gruppen, Palmer Group, Robert Prizelius, Tramontane, Treasury Wine Estates, VCT Norway, and West Coast Wines presented over 70 unique vintages currently on the Norwegian market, including newly launched products. In addition, AmCham proudly presented two wines not yet available in Norway.

Full List of Wines Presented

While enjoying wines from the Golden State and Washington, guests were able to view California-based LUCID Motors’ impressive Air Dream Edition EV.

A Journey Through California’s AVAs

Master of Wine and Head of Wine & Education at Kulinarisk Akademi, Heidi Iren Hansen Vestvik, led our Master Class – A journey through California’s AVA’s. Heidi presented a blind tasting of eight California wines, two from each grape variety, zeroing in on the nuances from different AVAs. The lineup featured the following wines:

  • Black Stallion Chardonnay
  • Marimar Estate La Masia Chardonnay
  • August West Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
  • Tyler Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
  • 1000 Stories Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel
  • Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Zinfandel
  • Beringer Knights Valley Cab Sauv
  • Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Photos: Julia Ardakani

Heidi is also a certified Capstone California educator and provided information about the courses available in Norway.

AmCham and our member wine importers enjoy opportunities to jointly inform on American wines. We look forward to future tastings with journalists, partners, and members!

AmCham Wine Committee

Through the collective strength of our members in our designated Wine Committee, AmCham works to increase market share of American wines in Norway, addressing trade barriers, ensuring a favorable policy environment, and educating on critical issues within the wine industry. US wine market share in Norway has increased considerably in the past years, due in large part to our committee’s tireless efforts.

Vinmonopolet sold 78.8 million liters of wine in 2023, a reduction of 1.7% from 2022. This was an expected decline, as sales are still normalizing after extraordinary pandemic circumstances. US wines represented 5.9% of total wines sales in Norway. US red wine sales decreased by 5.4% in keeping with the overall trend in red wine sales. On the other hand, US white wine sales rose by 22% and American rosés increased by 3.3%.

Mapping Vinmonopolet

The Norwegian wine monopoly, Vinmonopolet, has the exclusive right to sell spirits, wine, and strong ale with more than 4,7% alcohol to consumers in Norway. The process of entering the Norwegian market and getting wines listed is exceptionally challenging – not to mention keeping wines in stock and on shelves once they are listed. As US wineries are sourced from further away as compared to their European counterparts, shipping and logistics are significantly more complex.

Together with the other Nordic alcohol monopolies, Vinmonopolet has created a formal collaboration and binding joint roadmap to reduce emissions by 50% and ensure transparency in the entire value chain by 2030. Stricter requirements emphasize the need for clear communication and collaboration to make sure requirements are understood and that new procedures are implemented smoothly.

Past Wine Tastings