Enlarge image Ambassador Peter Ammon and Minister Philipp Rösler at the ambassador's residence on June 17, 2012. (© P. Gomez) Federal Minister of Economics and Technology Philipp Rösler arrived in Washington, DC last night on a visit whose purpose is both to promote a strong euro within a stable monetary union and to lay impetus on free trade. After arriving in Washington, Minister Rösler attended a dinner hosted by Ambassador Peter Ammon at his residence, and after spending today in a series of meetings, will depart for New York City this evening.

The minister signaled that although budget restraints receive the largest spotlight, structural reforms are equally important. Pointing to the election results in Greece, Minister Rösler affirmed that the the euro zone has both the will and the mettle to stay intact.

In Washington, his day began at the Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT), where Rösler was guest for a breakfast. After that, he went to the Peterson Institute for International Economics for a discussion with that institute's chief, Fred Bergsten.

Minister Rösler also traveled to the White House to meet Gene Sperling, the US director of the National Economic Council under President Obama. A luncheon discussion, jointly hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and the Congressional Study Group on Germany, followed.

Later in the afternoon, Rösler met with US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu at the Department of Energy, where the two discussed the German priority for renewable energy and the implications of shale gas as an energy source in the United States. Following that, he discussed trade policy with US Trade Representative Ron Kirk.

“There cannot be any discounts,” Minister Rösler said, “nor any trade-offs” when it comes to a stability union. “Rather, the agreed-upon goals have to be reached.” The larger goal underpinning them all is stability within union, and part and parcel to its success is the motor generated by freer trade.

During his time in the capital, Rösler also had the opportunity to pay a visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial. The next leg of his journey will find him in New York.