EuPC Focus Automotive & Transportation - februari 2015

TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) US-EU Trade Negotiations
On Wednesday February 4th 2015, a stakeholder hearing took place in Brussels, during the eight round of the EU-US negations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. During this stakeholder hearing the US representative stated that the bigger issues are not moving as fast as he would like, but nonetheless good ground was being made and that a great working relations had already been established with the new EU Commissioner for Trade Celia Malmström. The following areas were highlighted as a means forward in the negotiations: i) Tariffs – both sides are working towards the complete removal of tariffs; ii) Services offer – US believes in the need for greater ambition here to cover new services; iii) Regulatory issues – pointed to the need to reduce regulatory barriers and costs due to regulatory differences; iv) Better regulation – particularly with respect to the automobile, medical devices and pharmaceutical sectors; v) Mutual recognition and harmonisation should be achieved where possible, with great commitment to sharing of data between regulators where this cannot be agreed. Finally, both sides emphasised that public communications on TTIP need to be more effective and focussed towards 'keeping an eye on the prize'. Communications will need to embody a positive narrative and both sides need to respond quickly and effectively to unfounded negative commentary on TTIP.

Lees meer in de Focus Automotive & Transportation - februari 2015