Overview[]
The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) is a forum of U.S. and EU consumer organisations which develops and agrees on joint consumer policy recommendations to the U.S. government and European Union to promote the consumer interest in EU and U.S. policy making. It was launched in September 1998.
It is in the context of the New Transatlantic Agenda (NTA; launched in 1995) and in particular of the New Economic Partnership (launched in 1998), that the TACD, along with several other transatlantic dialogues, was born.
In launching the NTA and the TEP, the governments of the EU and U.S. had for the first time pledged their support to an increased involvement of civil society in transatlantic policy-making.
Information society[]
TACD work in the area of Information Society aims to promote the recognition and improvement of consumer rights in the digital world.
With consumers increasingly relying on the Internet for work, shopping and social life, it is more important than ever that the appropriate regulatory [[framework]s are in place to ensure their safety and privacy.
Intellectual property[]
TACD's work on intellectual property (IP) focuses on promoting a more balanced IP system in which the needs and rights of consumers are given equal consideration to those of rights holders. TACD promotes an IP system that effectively promotes innovation while maintaining access for users.