It would not just slash the already low trade tariffs between the world’s two top economies, but crucially it would also harmonise regulations to an unprecedented degree, affecting goods and services as far-ranging as Roquefort cheese and accounting.
“We are dealing mainly with regulation and more specifically, de-regulation,” said Tom Jenkins, a senior advisor at ETUC, a European trade union group.
“People are quizzical to say the very least,” he said.
Campaigners are convinced that powerful interests are selling the consumer short in secret negotiations.
But instead of setting aside negative opinion, as is often the case in the early rounds of trade talks, the EU decided to face the critics, embracing dialogue and transparency, at least to a degree.
“We are aware of the sensitivities, of all the concerns and criticisms,” an EU source told AFP. “We are also aware of our own efforts towards transparency and we are also aware that more can be done.”
The EU has even published texts that previously would have remained confidential, including the bloc’s official negotiating mandate.
“Traditionally, trade deals were made in smoke-filled rooms, behind closed doors. TTIP is the first where there is a crack in the door,” Jenkins said.
– ‘Transatlantic renaissance’ –
