U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets: Portugal

You are subscribed to U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets: Portugal 10/08/2015 02:52 PM EDT U.S. Relations With Portugal Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Fact Sheet October 8, 2015   More information about Portugal is available on the Portugal Page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet. U.S.-PORTUGAL RELATIONS United States-Portugal bilateral ties date from the earliest years of the United States when Portugal was among the first countries to recognize the United States following the revolutionary war. The oldest continuously-operating U.S. Consulate is in Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores. Contributing to the strong ties between the United States and Portugal are the presence of sizeable Portuguese communities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, California, and Hawaii. A strong, vocal pro-American sentiment across most of the political spectrum has combined to make the relationship between the United States and Portugal one of three pillars of Portugal’s foreign policy, along with the European Union and the Portuguese-speaking world. The United States and Portugal cooperate in the United Nations, in various regional organizations, and bilaterally for peace, prosperity, and security. Portugal became a charter member of NATO in 1949. It is an active member of the Alliance whose forces in 2015 were deployed to NATO operations in Afghanistan, the Balkans, and Central and Eastern Europe, as well as to EU and UN missions in the Mediterranean, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Somalia. Portugal is one of three primary Allied nations hosting Operation Trident Juncture, one of NATO’s largest-ever exercises, in October-November 2015. Playing a lead role in Trident Juncture from its Lisbon hub is Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO), the Alliance’s premier maritime battle staff and primary link for integrating U.S. maritime forces into NATO operations. The U.S. Air Force’s 65th Air Base Group operates from Lajes Field, a Portuguese airbase on Terceira island in the Azores that serves as a logistics hub for U.S Transportation Command, U.S. European Command, and NATO allies. Portugal is a strong partner in combating terrorism, most recently having deployed military trainers to Iraq in the fight against ISIL Portugal’s law enforcement cooperation with the United States and other international partners to combat drug trafficking is outstanding, featuring multiple, highly successful joint investigations throughout 2014 and 2015. Pursuant to the 1995 Agreement on Cooperation and Defense, the U.S.-Portugal Bilateral Commission meets semi-annually to review all aspects of the bilateral relationship, including defense cooperation, science and technology cooperation, bilateral trade and investment, cooperation in the Azores, justice and home affairs, and political and diplomatic cooperation. The U.S.-Portugal Fulbright Commission was founded in 1960 and funds graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting professors. U.S. Assistance to Portugal The United States provides no development assistance to Portugal. Bilateral Economic Relations The United States is Portugal’s second largest trading partner outside the European Union. Bilateral trade reached $4.3 billion in 2014, a sixty-three percent increase from five years earlier. The U.S. exported $1.1 billion of goods in 2014, with soybeans, civilian aircraft and components, and corn the leading products [we can condense this to “agricultural commodities and civilian aircraft and components” if you like, though the current wording is more specific]. The U.S. imported $3.2 billion during the same time, with petroleum and pharmaceutical products and industrial supplies in the lead. U.S. direct investment in Portugal reached $2.1 billion in 2014, and U.S. companies are significant investors in the insurance, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, among others. Portugal and the United States have enacted an income tax agreement to prevent double taxation, and signed an agreement on implementing the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act in August of 2015. Portugal's Membership in International Organizations Portugal and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Portugal is an observer to the Organization of American States. Bilateral Representation The U.S. Ambassador to Portugal is Robert A. Sherman; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List. Portugal maintains an embassy in the United States at 2012 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036; tel. 202-350-5400. More information about Portugal is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here: Department of State Portugal Page Department of State Key Officers List CIA World Factbook Portugal Page U.S. Embassy: Portugal History of U.S. Relations With Portugal Human Rights Reports International Religious Freedom Reports Trafficking in Persons Reports Narcotics Control Reports Investment Climate Statements U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics Export.gov International Offices Page Library of Congress Country Studies Travel and Business Information   The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. 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