Today, Deputy Secretary Don Graves met with the Czech Republic’s Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Sikela, to discuss strengthening U.S.-Czech trade and investment ties. The Deputy Secretary congratulated the Minister on the Czech Republic’s successful Presidency of the Council of EU and thanked him for continued efforts to advance the transatlantic trade agenda. Graves underscored the Czech government’s position as an important partner and ally of both the United States and Ukraine and emphasized the value of Minister Sikela’s assistance in recruiting Czech companies to participate in Commerce’s SelectUSA Investment Summit in May. Minister Sikela traveled with more than 60 Czech businesses to the United States and will visit three U.S. cities with assistance from the Department’s International Trade Administration.