The EU-US Transatlantic Trade and
Investment Partnership (TTIP)
II Unites States – European Union Forum
Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus
16 May 2014
Miami
Damien LEVIE
TTIP Deputy Chief Negotiator
European Commission
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?
A "21st century" trade agreement
TTIP challenges
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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
“The TTIP is vital for us. Once the duties are
eliminated, we expect to recover, secure and
strengthen our position in the U.S.”
• 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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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"
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.
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A "21st century" trade agreement
Aim 1 - More business opportunities
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Tariffs
Services
Public procurement
Investment
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A "21st century" trade agreement
Aim 2 : More consistent rules
► Regulatory compatibility & Non Tariff Barriers
► Sectors:
• Cars, Chemicals, Textiles,
• Medical devices, Pharma, Cosmetics
• SPS
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A "21st century" trade agreement
Aim 3 - Better regulatory environment – examples for global rules
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Intellectual Property Rights
Sustainable Development (labour & environment)
Energy & Raw Materials
Localisation
Customs & Trade Facilitation
Competition/ State Owned Enterprises
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TTIP challenges
Overall high ambition agreement approved by both sides
• US Congress
• Member States & European Parliament
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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
• Investment Protection / Investor-to-state Dispute Settlement
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TTIP challenges (3)
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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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