All posts by Margrethe Harboe

Noreg presenterte nytt klimamål under internasjonalt klimaministermøte

Klima- og miljøminister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen deltek på eit ministermøte for klimaet i København. Der har han presentert Noregs nye klimamål. Under møtet vil Noreg òg leie diskusjonar om rettferdig omstilling i klimapolitikken.

– Fram mot klimatoppmøtet i Brasil treng vi å sjå sterke signal om nye klimamål som anerkjenner innsatsen til partane og stadfestar forpliktinga vår til å halde 1,5-gradersmålet innan rekkevidde. Vi må òg anerkjenne at vi må gjere meir og gjere det raskare om vi skal komme i mål. For meg er det viktig å vise verda at Noreg kjem til å levere eit ambisiøst klimamål for 2035. Skal vi sikre folk ei trygg framtid, må klimapolitikken også prioriterast i utrygge tider. Klimatoppmøtet i Belém må sende sterke politiske signal og levere praktiske resultat i alle forhandlingsspor slik at internasjonalt samarbeid støttar opp om høge ambisjonar og handling frå alle land, seier klima- og miljøminister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen.

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Forsvarsministeren inviterer til oppstartkonferansen for «Industriforum for Flåteplanen 2024»

– Regjeringen etablerer et nytt industriforum for å forberede norsk maritim industri og forsvarsindustrien på det store forsvarsløftet som skjer når vi kjøper blant annet fregatter, standardiserte fartøy og ubåter. Jeg vil invitere til en oppstartkonferanse for industriforumet 27. mai på Akershus Festning. Nå er det bare å melde seg på om du tror din bedrift har en teknologi eller løsning som er moden og klar for å finne sin plass i fremtidens fartøyer til Sjøforsvaret, sier forsvarsminister Tore O. Sandvik.

Det finnes betydelig kompetanse i hele Norge innen bygging og utrustning av avanserte skip. Norsk maritim industri har designet og utrustet flere fartøy for Sjøforsvaret de siste årene. Dersom norsk maritim industri og norsk forsvarsindustri klarer å finne sammen for å levere gode og konkurransedyktige fartøy til Forsvaret, vil dette bidra til økt sysselsetting og industriutvikling, samt muligheter for økt eksport.

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Government: Launch of Norway’s first national security strategy

Today, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre presented Norway’s first national security strategy. The new strategy sets the direction and priorities for the collective national effort to enhance Norway’s security.

‘The world has become more dangerous and more unpredictable. A broad, overarching national security strategy is needed to respond to this situation. We must pull together to do what it takes to keep Norway secure and safe,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

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AmCham Defense Forum: Perspectives on US and Norwegian Naval Capabilities and Requirements

AmCham Defense Forum: Perspectives on US and Norwegian Naval Capabilities and Requirements

 

In collaboration with the US Commercial Service, AmCham’s second Defense Forum of the year was hosted Vila Otium, where participants were welcomed by Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the U.S. Embassy Oslo, Robert S. Needham. The session featured two distinguished speakers: Commodore Kyrre Haugen, Commander of the Norwegian Fleet, and Admiral James G. Foggo, U.S. Navy (ret.), Dean of the Center for Maritime Strategy, Navy League of the United States.

 

Commodore Haugen delivered an insightful presentation on the current and future state of Norway’s naval forces, highlighting their increasing importance in transatlantic security. Although relatively small in size, the Norwegian Navy is agile, highly capable, and plays a crucial role in NATO operations, maritime surveillance, and strategic readiness. Its contributions have become even more significant with the recent accession of Sweden and Finland into NATO, strengthening regional defense and cooperation in the High North. Despite a steady decline in defense budgets since the 1960s and historically uneven investments, the path forward will require sustained long-term planning and strategic investment, particularly in standardized, modular military systems that can adapt to evolving security challenges.

Admiral James G. Foggo delivered a compelling talk entitled “The Importance of Friends in the High North,” drawing on decades of personal and professional experience. He provided a broad and insightful overview of transatlantic and Arctic developments, emphasizing the enduring importance of strong alliances. Admiral Foggo highlighted not only the vital role of NATO partners in securing the region but also the strength and depth of the longstanding US-Norway bilateral relationship. He also underscored the growing emphasis within the United States on maritime strategy and the urgent need to revitalize the nation’s shipbuilding industrial base, which he argued would be an essential pillar of national defense, allied interoperability, and long-term deterrence.

About the AmCham Defense Forum

In partnership with the US Commercial Service, the Defense Forum supports US defense industry partners in Norway. Key Patron-level and defense industry representatives gather quarterly to forge enhanced public-private sector collaboration – sharing insights, developments, and trends to secure long-term transatlantic bonds.

 Please contact amcham@amcham.no for interest in future meetings.

 

AmCham Defense Forum: Perspectives on US and Norwegian Naval Capabilities and Requirements

In collaboration with the US Commercial Service, AmCham’s second Defense Forum of the year was hosted Vila Otium, where participants were welcomed by Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the U.S. Embassy Oslo, Robert S. Needham. The session featured distinguished speakers Commodore Kyrre Haugen, Commander of the Norwegian Fleet, and Admiral James G. Foggo, U.S. Navy (ret.), Dean of the Center for Maritime Strategy, Navy League of the United States.

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AmCham Defense Forum: The Evolving Security Landscape and Norwegian Military Development

In collaboration with the US Commercial Service, AmCham’s first Defense Forum of the year was hosted by Brækhus at their downtown Oslo offices. The session featured two distinguished speakers: Retired General Sverre Diesen, lead researcher at Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt (FFI) and former Chief of Defense, and General Eirik Kristoffersen, Norway’s Chief of Defense. Together, they provided invaluable insights into the current and future security challenges facing Norway and its allies.

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Pentagon: Norge skal kjøpe missiler fra USA

Ifølge en pressemelding fra Pentagon har det amerikanske utenriksdepartement godkjent å selge missilene til Norge for 379 millioner amerikanske dollar.

Også det norske forsvarsdepartementet (FD) bekrefter nyheten på Linkedin.

– Norge har et tett samarbeid med USA og har kjøpt forsvarssystemer derfra i en årrekke. Når det gjelder fremtidige kjøp, vil vi annonsere det når kjøpet er gjennomført. USAs godkjennelse understreker vårt tette forsvarssamarbeid, sier forsvarsminister Tore O. Sandvik på FDs Linkedin-profil.

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White House dismisses Chamber push for small businesses tariff relief

WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) – The White House on Thursday rebuffed an effort to give small U.S. business owners any immediate relief from tariffs, saying those companies would get economic relief from tax cuts that Congress is seeking to extend.


The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, asked for small companies to be excluded from tariffs if they can show it would harm U.S. workers and for products that cannot be made in the United States or are not readily available.

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U.S. Chamber to Administration: Small Businesses Need Immediate Relief from Tariffs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber sent a letter asking the administration to address the impacts of tariffs by granting automatic exclusions for any small business importer, establishing a process for companies to apply for an exclusion if the company can demonstrate that tariffs pose a risk to employment for American workers, and providing exclusions for all products that cannot be produced in the United States or are not readily available.

“The Chamber supports many of the President’s policy goals, including eliminating unfair trade and non-trade barriers, and driving American investment. At the same time, we have heard from a historic number of small businesses who have made it clear: they need immediate relief from tariffs,” said Suzanne P. Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “As each day goes by, small businesses are increasingly endangered by higher costs and interrupted supply chains that will cause irreparable harm. We applaud the administration’s efforts to negotiate as many new trade agreements as possible that expand market access for U.S. companies and benefit American workers, but these deals take time, and many businesses simply can’t afford to wait while negotiations proceed.”

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AmCham Journalist Wine Tasting: Red, White & New

AmCham Journalist Wine Tasting: Red, White & New

There, member importers EngelstadPalmer GroupRobert Prizelius, Tramontane, VCT, and West Coast Wines presented over 60 unique vintages currently on the Norwegian market, including newly launched products. In addition, AmCham proudly presented four wines not (yet) available in Norway. The tasting accurately represented California’s 89% share of US wine production, while still allowing guests to experience the different terroirs found in Oregon and Washington.

AmCham Wine Committee – Thriving on Connections

Through the collective strength of our members in our designated Wine Committee, AmCham works to increase market share of US wines in Norway, addressing trade barriers, ensuring a favorable policy environment, and educating on critical wine industry issues. Increasing awareness and competence on varying US wine regions amongst industry professionals and consumers is a key priority.

AmCham members’ shared passion for US wines brings together business leaders across industries, bonding over a common interest and sets a stage for potential new partnerships and collaborations.

Past Tastings

Halliburton announces tariff impact on drilling, frac operations

(Bloomberg) – Halliburton Co., the world’s largest provider of hydraulic fracturing services, fell sharply after warning investors that tariffs will impact a wide swath of the company’s business units.

The dominant North American oil field services provider told investors Tuesday on a conference call that tariffs will have an impact of 2 to 3 cents per share during the second quarter, with 60% of the hit affecting its completions-and-production unit, which houses the fracing business. The rest of the tariffs impact will be to its drilling and evaluation segment.

The shares, which have lost about quarter of their value this year, fell 5.8% at 11:54 a.m. in New York. While customers are still digesting the latest tariff news and evaluating their drilling plans, they’re better prepared to weather an industry downturn than they were in the past, Chief Executive Officer Jeff Miller said on the call.

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Viste fram Norges første nye supermissil JSM og markerte at alle 52 F-35 kampfly er levert

– Norge er første land som har fått levert alle sine planlagte F-35. Anskaffelsen er en suksesshistorie. I dag har dessuten Forsvaret fått sitt første supermissil fra Forsvarsmateriell og KDA. Nå starter arbeidet med å fylle opp lagrene her på Ørland med JSM-missilet, sier forsvarsminister Tore O. Sandvik som deltok på markeringen på Ørland flystasjon.

– Kampflyene har blitt levert på tid og F-35 leverer bedre enn forventet. Det er et resultat av et formidabelt arbeid over mange år i store deler av forsvarssektoren. F-35 er en kapasitet som gjør hele Forsvaret bedre, sier forsvarsministeren.

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