TTIP Action – June 2
Malmstrom
European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström

Speeches & Official Announcements

National Parliaments: Vital for Trade and TTIP

“We have no intention of lowering regulatory protections or of giving companies a veto over our future EU or Member States’ policy space and actions. I am 100 percent sure that these things would not pass the European Parliament and neither would they pass your legislatures if this turns out to be a mixed agreement.” – Cecilia Malmström
Yesterday, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström spoke in Riga at the 53rd meeting of the Conference of European Community Affairs Committees (COSAC). In front of national Parliaments, as well as Members of the European Parliament, Commissioner Malmström emphasized the vital role of national parliaments in TTIP, both as channels for citizens’ concerns and priorities, as well as a forum for debating the issues at hand. Commissioner Malmström insisted that TTIP would not water down EU regulation or give unfair influence to private companies. (European Commission)

Ryan to Colleagues: TPA Can Unite Us. Let’s Get It Done

“The world is watching this vote. After the past six years, too many countries think the United States is in retreat. Our friends in Asia want to side with our system of free enterprise, but they need to know they can count on us before placing their bets. A vote for TPA would be a strong signal that we will lead.” – Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan
As the House prepares to vote on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan sent his Republican colleagues in the House a letter, urging them to unite behind the conservative principles underlying free trade. He stressed TPA’s benefits to the US economy and national security, the chance to write the global rules of trade, as well as the unprecedented accountability provisioned in the bill that allows to advance fair and effective trade agreements such as TPP and TTIP over the next six years. (Committee on Ways and Means)

News

EU Needs ‘More Leadership’ on TTIP

Cecilia Malmström, EU Trade Commissioner noted last Monday that EU Member States needed to show more leadership in persuading citizens about the benefits of TTIP. With talks set to resume in July, Malmström argued that concerns such as GMOs or hormones in beef were unsubstantiated, and that the EU was setting up an investment court to allay concerns among Europeans that the arbitration panel foreseen in the deal would allow companies to bypass national courts. (Luxemburger Wort)

Merkel Appeals to Germans to Back Trade Pact Ahead of G7 Meeting

German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to rally German support for TTIP before the G7 summit in June, expressing her hope that the agreement will be finalized by 2017. She noted that it was important that talks between the EU and US lead to an accord before President Obama leaves office in January 2017, in order to avoid “a long interruption” in the negotiations, as well as to keep up with the talks between the US and its transpacific partners. (Reuters)

Softer Secrecy Deal for TTIP Group

The European Commission has backed away from the strict confidentiality clause it had wanted to impose on members of a special external group advising it on TTIP. The final version of the non-disclosure agreement requires the members of the group that they not leak classified information about the talks. The agreement no longer includes a requirement contained in an earlier draft that members promise not to comment publicly on documents relating to TTIP, even when these had already been leaked. The debate shows the intricate balance between increasing transparency in the TTIP talks without weakening the EU’s negotiating position. (Politico)

EU Seeks a Digital Single Market to Spur Tech Economy

European Commission Vice President for the Digital Economy, Andrus Ansip, noted that the EU’s plan to create one common set of rules for the online digital world that all of its member countries can follow should not concern in the US. While some critics have talked about the creation of a ‘Fortress Europe’, Mr. Ansip insists that the Digital Single Market (DSM) is about increasing competition and creating a bigger market. (USA Today)

TTIP Action Partner

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Recent Analysis

House Trade Vote Will Be Tight, Like in 2001

TPA is expected to hit the floor in the coming weeks, but with a number of Democratic and Republican votes still uncertain, Doug Palmer from Politico sees the House in largely the same situation as it was in December 2001, when President George Bush was given TPA. Although the Senate approved the bill on May 22 by a comfortable bipartisan margin of 62-37, the outlook in the House is considerably bleaker. Less than 20 House Democrats publicly support TPA, and forty or more Republicans could potentially vote against the bill, which needs a simple majority to pass. (Politico)

Who Doesn’t Want $123 Billion? Why the Trade Deal Must Be Done

President of Americans for Tax Reform Grover Norquist and the organization’s director of state affairs, Patrick Gleason, noted that for TPP and TTIP to get passed, the House must grant the President TPA. Both note the 68 Republicans and 29 Democrats that oppose giving the President TPA are doing their states a great disservice. If TPA is not passed now, there is a real possibility that the US may not complete any trade agreements for the next decade, and Washington cannot afford such a withdrawal from the global economy. (Reuters)

Minnesotans Stand to Benefit From Proposed Trade Deals

Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-MN) puts forward the example of Minnesota to explain how individual states stand to benefit from the conclusion of TTIP and trade deals at large. However, in order to get the best trade deals for US workers and SMEs, Congressman Paulsen emphasizes how critical it is that Congress pass TPA. With the US global leadership now at a crossroads, we can either ensure that America sets the standards when it comes to our relationships with other countries, or we will grow weaker while our competitors become stronger. (StarTribune)

Longstanding Partners in Changing Times: Report on the Future of German- American Relations

The German Marshall Fund published an interesting policy brief on the relationship between the US and Germany. Allies for 60 years, US-German bilateral ties would benefit from a reassessment of what binds them and why continued strong cooperation benefits both sides. Their report presented several recommendations to renew and deepen the bilateral relationship, such as strengthening digital and economic ties, globalizing transatlantic networks, and placing higher demands on policymakers for transparency. (German Marshall Fund)

Upcoming Events

The Transatlantic Partnership – Selling out European Values or Building Block for Europe’s Future? – June 2 in Berlin, hosted by the Ministry of Economy and Energy – More Information

The Global Impact of TTIP: Geopolitics and Trade Politics – June 3 in Brussels, hosted by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe – More Information – Watch the webcast here

Can TTIP Protect European Creativity? – June 4 in Amsterdam, hosted by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe – More Information

TTIP: Chances and Risks for Developing Countries – June 18, hosted by the German Development Institute – More Information

European Trade Policy Day – June 23 in Brussels, hosted by the European Commission – More Information

Roundtable on the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – June 25 in Brussels, hosted by the European Ombudsman – More Information

Extra-Territoriality and Financial Regulation – June 26 in Washington DC, organized by the Oxford Journal of Financial Regulation; co-sponsored by Atlantic Council, the Institute of International Economic Law at Georgetown University, University of Paris I, University of Paris II, and Penn State – More Information

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

EU Digital Single Market Conference – July 16 in Washington, hosted by the Trans-Atlantic Business Council – More Information