Dear AmCham Members, Partners, and Friends,
Welcome to the 161st edition of your AmCham newsletter! We are delighted you allow us into your home every week and happily share our summary of news and information which we hope helps you to navigate and prosper in this Luxembourg environment.
Our feature article this week is written by Laura Foulds, the smart and wonderful owner of Analie Tax & Consulting who every year kindly provides our AmCham and British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) readers with a year-end summary of the Luxembourg, UK and USA tax requirements and deductible expenses to help you all optimize your tax situation before the end of the year filings. In addition to her text, Laura has kindly included her information slides from our joint AmCham-BCC annual lunch at the DoubleTree by Hilton Luxembourg of last week. Please read these excellent summaries. It goes without saying that AmCham and the BCC most strongly endorse and recommend Laura and the services provided by Analie Tax & Consulting to all of you in need of such services!
Last week was quite busy with other activities as well. For any of you who might have missed our analysis of the consequences of the US election, we include this week the link to this analysis. We understand that some people are concerned by the possibility for a direction change in the USA beginning when Mr. Trump again becomes President on 20 January 2025 and what impact that change might have on Luxembourg and Europe. As we said last week, the US, Luxembourg and Europe are solid long-term partners bound together by common culture, religion, belief in democracy and capitalism. These ties that bind us together as family are so historic that both sides are committed to keep them together. We were very pleased that our Prime Minister, Mr. Frieden, echoed this same message during his speech at the Spuerkeess/Mediahuis evening event last week. Please look at this analysis and feel free to ask us any questions you may have (Paul@amcham.lu).
Please note that we will reinforce the importance of this historic Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment partnership with a special evening cocktail reception event at Deloitte in Cloche d’Or on 27 November at 6:30 PM. Following a speech by U.S. Ambassador Thomas Barrett, our Deputy Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel will address us by video before the main presentation by Mr. Thibaut l’Ortye, the Director of Public Affairs at AmCham EU. who will come to Luxembourg from Brussels to brief all of the details of the 2024 annual trade and investment study commissioned by the AmChams in Europe. Luc Decker our Executive Director of the Trade and Investment Office in New York will also join us by video link. Because open trade is so important to Luxembourg, AmCham.lu is one of the five AmChams in Europe who fund this annual study. This is a free event as a public service to present this important detailed information. Register and join us for this important event!
This past weekend was very busy with the International Bazaar all weekend and the 249th Marine Corps Gala Dinner Saturday evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton Luxembourg. My compliments to the security team from the International Bazaar ensuring the safety of all attendees at the LuxExpo The Box. I worked all day Saturday and Sunday dishing out amazing chili at the American stand and thank my many friends and acquaintances who came by to say hello (and enjoy the chili!). The American stand was next to the Israeli stand and close to the Scandinavian stands and the Dutch stand (who, as every year, not only have wonderful cheese, but also have great music and dancing).
Every American embassy on the planet is protected by a Marine Corps detachment of soldiers and all Marines, everywhere on the planet join together to annually celebrate the birthday of their organization. The Saturday evening celebration at the DoubleTree by Hilton Luxembourg was patriotic and moving. Ambassador Barrett gave a particularly meaningful speech complimenting his detachment of Marines (and saying much more besides!). We have been very lucky to have Ambassador Barrett and his wife with us these past three years and will miss them when they leave! We were pleased, at the AmCham table, to host the third most senior member of the Luxembourg Police force, Bob Leesch (with his wonderful wife Mia Aouadi), the Government Affairs Director from Spangdahlem Air Force Base, Claudia Mueller and the newest of the 52nd Fighter Wing Maintenance Squadron Commanders, Major James Hedgepeth. A solid evening with a good time for all.
This coming week, AmCham will host a sold-out crowd for our annual Thanksgiving on Friday evening, 22 November, at Cercle Cité followed by the British Luxembourg Society hosting their annual Gala on Saturday at Le Royal Hotel. We will report on these events next week.
We thank all of you for your friendship and support! It is our pleasure to serve you!
With respect and kindest regards,
Paul Schonenberg
Chairman and CEO
AmCham.lu
