Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez is scheduled to travel to Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 6-7, 2024, to take part in the high-level Building Resilient Economy and Resisting Economic Coercion (REC) conference hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania.

The conference aims to foster collaboration among like-minded partners to tackle economic coercion. One of the key highlights will be discussions on the collaborative policy responses required to combat the coercive misuse of trade connections, including extending concrete support to targeted nations. During the event, Under Secretary Fernandez will be joining Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, and Ono Keiichi, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, among others, on a panel focused on addressing the rise of economic coercion.

In line with the conference's objectives, U.S. representatives will be presenting insights on the support provided to various countries, including Lithuania, in countering economic coercion. They will emphasize the assistance offered by the U.S. in identifying alternative and viable economic solutions for supply chain realignment. This aligns with the broader theme of the event, which seeks to strengthen resilience against economic pressures.

The first day of the conference will feature public high-level panel discussions. Those interested in media coverage and opportunities related to the event can visit the official webpage for more information. To stay updated on the latest developments, individuals can follow Under Secretary Fernandez on various social media platforms, including X, LinkedIn, and Facebook. For media inquiries, interested parties are encouraged to reach out to E_Communications@state.gov.