Chief TTIP negotiators Dan Mullaney from the US and Ignacio Garcia Bercero from the EU wrapped up the tenth round of TTIP negotiations on July 17

At a press conference following the conclusion of the tenth TTIP negotiating round, chief negotiators Dan Mullaney from the US and Ignacio Garcia Bercero from the EU highlighted various achievements such as increased regulatory convergence and progress on market access.

On Monday, leading House Democrats sent a letter urging US Trade Representative Michael Froman to include provisions in the TPP that enable governments to help protect and strengthen the stability of their financial systems by implementing measures that would stem flows of speculative capital.

“As has been confirmed by presentations in the stakeholder event, SMEs stand to benefit from a wide range of areas that are being discussed in this agreement. Whether it is in terms of tariff elimination, better access to services or procurement opportunities, better information about regulatory measures applicable in our respective markets.” – Ignacio Garcia Bercero

In his opening remarks for the TTIP tenth round press conference, EU chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero touted the significant convergence between the European Union and United States under the regulatory pillar of the agreement. So far this includes agreement on good regulatory practices; ambitious chapters on technical areas to trade; and greater regulatory compatibility in sectors such as cars, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

For his part, US chief negotiator Dan Mullaney highlighted the tabling of market access offers on services as well as progress on customs and trade facilitation that will help reduce delays and costs at the border, making it easier for exporters to reach customers on both sides of the Atlantic. (USTR)

Watch the 10th TTIP negotiation round press conference here

Meeting on TTIP and Health: Read the minutes here

TTIP Advisory Group Meeting: Read the report here

According to Ignacio Garcia Bercero, the EU’s chief TTIP negotiator, the European Union will soon give the United States a formal proposal for amending the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism that has proven so controversial among the European public. Indeed, negotiations on investment protection have had to be postponed up until now so that the EU could undertake a public consultation on the issue and then await recommendations from the European Parliament. (PoliticoEU)

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In an interview with the Slovak Spectator, Jake Slegers, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia, explains that there are multiple scenarios for how TTIP may be concluded. But above all, he says, the deal must be comprehensive and stake out new global standards for trade. (Slovak Spectator)

As EU negotiators prepare a formal proposal on ISDS that incorporates the European Parliament’s recommendations, the chief negotiator for the US has already hinted that the proposal — which wants to replace private tribunals with a system more akin to public courts — is highly unlikely to be accepted by the US. According to US chief negotiator Dan Mullaney, the US ISDS system has already been changed in ways “that address some of the same concerns that have been raised [in Europe]: impartiality and the right of regulators to regulate in the public interest.” (EU Observer)

On Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

According to a leaked version of the TPP’s intellectual property chapter, the United States is trying to use the pacific trade pact to counter the EU’s effort to protect so-called “geographic indicators” for food. In particular, Washington is pressing for language that would allow countries in the TPP to reject protections for European regional food names if they could be confused with trademarks or common names. (Politico)

Leading House Democrats sent a letter on Monday urging US Trade Representative Michael Froman to include provisions in the TPP that enable governments to help protect and strengthen the stability of their financial systems by implementing measures that would stem flows of speculative capital. (Ways and Means)

Read the letter here

Writing in the Globe and Mail , Stewart Beck, president and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, argues that the TPP will force Canada to challenge the conventional wisdom around its antiquated system of supply management. Eliminating Canada’s high agricultural tariffs, he says, should not be seen as a threat, but as an opportunity to make the country’s exports more globally competitive. (Globe and Mail)

In what US Trade Representative Michael Froman called a “major breakthrough,” WTO negotiators struck a tentative deal to expand the number of information technology (IT) products on which tariffs would be dropped — an agreement which is estimated to boost global GDP by about $190 billion a year. (Reuters)

UK National Road Shows – June to December in the United Kingdom, hosted by the British American Business – More Information

EU Digital Single Market Conference – September 15 in Brussels, hosted by the Trans-Atlantic Business Council – More Information