Damien LEVIETTIP Deputy Chief NegotiatorEuropean Commission
The EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
II Unites States – European Union ForumMiami Dade College, Wolfson Campus16 May 2014Miami
Disclaimer
All views expressed are purely personal and should not be considered as representative of the European Commission’s official position. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information.
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Why TTIP matters?
EU & US: Top trading partners
•World's largest trade market•15 million transatlantic jobs•€2,4 trillion of mutual investment stocks
However, relative importance is in decline
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Economic Benefits
TTIP is a growth and jobs agenda to help:
• Consolidate the way out to the crisis • Increase trade• Improve labour markets conditions• Rest of the World
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Benefits for smaller firms
• Conservas El Raal, S.C.L., of Murcia, Spain, makes canned artichokes and peppers.
• Ten years ago, 95% of artichokes and peppers imported into the US came from Spain. Now it's only 25%.
• This is because of the import duty: while products from other countries enter the US duty-free, our shipments are subject to a tax of almost 15%.
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“The TTIP is vital for us. Once the duties are eliminated, we expect to recover, secure and
strengthen our position in the U.S.”
Benefits for smaller firms"We see not only a chance to eliminate specific
barriers to trade but also to reduce the psychological gap between entrepreneurs"
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Integrasys is an SME based in Madrid and specialised in satellite telecommunication systems.
Our challenges in exporting to the US•To launch sales a foreign company needs to be already somehow established in the US, which requires a lot of effort and investment. •There is also a question of perceptions.
A "21st century" trade agreement
Aim 1 - More business opportunities
•Tariffs•Services•Public procurement•Investment
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A "21st century" trade agreementAim 2 : More consistent rules
► Regulatory compatibility & Non Tariff Barriers ► Sectors:
• Cars, Chemicals, Textiles, • Medical devices, Pharma, Cosmetics• SPS
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Aim 3 - Better regulatory environment – examples for global rules •Intellectual Property Rights•Sustainable Development (labour & environment)•Energy & Raw Materials•Localisation•Customs & Trade Facilitation•Competition/ State Owned Enterprises
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A "21st century" trade agreement
TTIP challenges
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Overall high ambition agreement approved by both sides
•US Congress•Member States & European Parliament
TTIP Challenges (2)
Communication issues
•Right to regulate?•Lowering standards? "We'll be working hard to ensure TTIP strengthens consumer and environmental protection", EU-US summit, 26 March 2014
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• Investment Protection / Investor-to-state Dispute Settlement
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TTIP challenges (3)
Political Calendar
2014 busy political calendar both sides of the Atlantic• EU: New parliament and new Commission• US: ongoing Trade Promotion Authority discussions
and mid- term elections in November
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Stay informed
Commission's TTIP dedicated website http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/ttip/
Follow us on Twitter @EU_TTIP_team
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