On July 10, the United States implemented the National Interest Exceptions (NIE) to allow short-term business travel from the Netherlands to the U.S. under specific, limited circumstances. The NIEs recognize the importance of travel for investors, managers, and technical experts in keeping our economies healthy, while maintaining a focus on necessary health and safety considerations. Since then, the U.S. Consulate General in Amsterdam has approved approximately 174 NIEs for business and economic purposes - roughly 40 per week. NIE recipients must travel within a 30-day window after approval and they must adhere to all applicable national, state, and local COVID-19 guidelines. The NIEs have generated economic activity for both the U.S. and the Netherlands.
U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra recently reached out to the Dutch Government to advocate for reciprocal action allowing American business people to apply for short-term business travel to the Netherlands. Finding ways to make business travel from the U.S. to the Netherlands possible under specific conditions would leverage the strong economic ties to the mutual benefit of the Netherlands and the U.S.
AmCham appreciates and strongly supports Ambassador Hoekstra’s appeal for a mutual business travel arrangement that honors both special business needs and healthcare priorities.
