TTIP Action aggregates the latest news and best analysis from across the United States and European Union on the ongoing negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

 

Speeches & Official Announcements

Joint Press Conference with President Obama and Prime Minister Abe of Japan
President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a joint press conference in Tokyo on Thursday where they both expressed a firm commitment to a final resolution of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations to come soon. President Obama emphasized his belief that TPP is a “win-win” situation for all countries involved.
The full press conference is available here.

News

US and Japan step up tariff deal talks
President Obama is meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo this week as Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations continue; the trip marks the first state visit by a US President to Japan since 1996. TPP negotiations have been frustrated in recent months by disagreements over agriculture and automobile tariffs. (Financial Times)

Barack Obama: Russia sanctions ‘teed up’
Speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Abe, President Obama hinted that another round of sanctions against Russia may be deployed should Russian President Vladimir Putin prove unwilling to negotiate on the issue of Ukraine. President Obama also chastised President Putin for failing to adhere to the Geneva agreement reached last week, which aimed to ease tensions that emerged from Russia’s actions in Crimea. (Politico)

New trade pact may be game changer
According to stakeholders in the US meat industry, TTIP and TPP agreements could have dramatic impacts on US trade. Thad Lively, senior vice president for trade access with the US Meat Export Federation explained that in order to produce meaningful benefits for US red meat exports, TTIP negotiations must address tariffs, quotas, and non-tariff barriers. (Iowa Farmer Today)

New trade deals may open doors for SC
Successful TTIP negotiations could yield significant benefits for the state of South Carolina, including increasing exports to Europe by 187 percent and creating at least 100,000 new jobs. Numbers like these, BMW AG CEO Norbert Reithofer said, are an example of what can be achieved when the federal, state, and local governments collaborate to advance trade policy internationally. (GSA Business)

EU envoy promotes trade pact
During a trip to West Virgina earlier this week, European Union Ambassador João Vale de Almeida discussed ongoing TTIP negotiations which, he said, are of the utmost importance in light of the recent global recession. Increasing exports of US energy could be one tool in combatting Russia’s outsized influence on the energy sector in Europe, Ambassador Vale de Almeida noted. (Charleston Gazette)

Recent Analysis

German/US Data Transfers: Crucial for Both Economies, Difficult to Regain Trust
Axel Spies of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies writes that the United States and German must resolve issues related to data transfers, particularly following the NSA surveillance revelations that have eroded trust between the Germany and the United States. A joint statement by the two countries on a common core of data protection would be a vital step toward repairing the relationship, possibly while Chancellor Merkel is in Washington next week. (American Insitute for Contemporary German Studies)

Bridging the Energy Divide? EU-US Energy Relations and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Colleagues from the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik and Federation of German Industries explain the role of energy in the ongoing TTIP negotiations. Despite low energy interdependence between the United States and European Union at present, a comprehensive energy chapter in TTIP would benefit both parties, particularly given their common interests in transparent and open energy markets, not to mention increased US exports of LNG. (Transatlantic Academy)

Obama trade push gets thumbs down from Democrats
President Obama’s ambitious international trade efforts have thus far been frustrated by members of his own Democratic Party, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who have opposed renewing Trade Promotion Authority and expressed little interest in TPP. If the White House is unable to convince Democratic allies to support the free trade agenda, the administration risks losing credibility in its efforts to pivot to Asia. (Politico)

TTIP: A Bridge to our Common Interests
Lisa Schroeter, Global Director of Trade & Investment Policy at the Dow Chemical Company says that increasing trade between the United States and European Union is critical to both economies in the wake of recent recessions. Regulatory cooperation would benefit the chemical industry considerably, without harming regulatory outcomes, through streamlining high performance and safety standards, among other measures. (British American Business)

Send a Message to Putin With a Trans-Atlantic Energy Pact
Bruno Maçães, state secretary for European Affairs in Portugal, advocates for a transatlantic energy pact to boost economic efficiency and weaken Russia. An agreement should include US export restrictions on oil and gas exported to Europe, creating a strong energy infrastructure, and aligning US and EU environmental and state-aid standards. (Wall Street Journal)

Aux Parlements de surveiller le partenariat transatlantique
Alberto Alemanno, professor at HEC Paris, addresses the role of legislators in regulatory oversight. Given their increasingly important roles moving forward, the United States Congress and European Parliament should engage in more effective means of communication when creating laws and regulations–both during the TTIP negotiations and afterward. (Le Monde – original article in French)

Upcoming Events

Strengthening the Transatlantic Economy: Perspectives from the UK and US – April 28, Washington DCMore Information

Toward A Europe Whole and Free Conference – April 29, Washington, DC at the Atlantic CouncilMore information

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and Prospects for Transatlantic Cooperation in Science and Innovation – April 29, Boston, MassachusettsMore Information

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – Making Trade Work for You – April 29, Valletta, Malta – RSVP here

Atlantic Council hosts Thomas Enders, CEO, Airbus Group for a talk on TTIP and Transatlantic Security – April 30, Washington, DCMore information

A Transatlantic Pivot to Asia – May 1, Washington, DCMore information

The UVA Mortimer Caplin Conference on The World Economy – May 1, Edinburgh, UK – More Information

Stakeholder Meeting On Investment Protection In TTIP – May 13, Brussels, BelgiumMore information

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) Agreement: Facts and Opportunities for Business in Europe and Spain – June 2, Madrid, Spain More Information