The following timeline provides information on key steps taken by the United States on the inception, introduction, and negotiation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) from the end of 2011 to the beginning of 2014. TTIP is part of a broad strategy to build and reinforce the long-standing relationship between the United States with the European Union. This comprehensive trade agreement works to enhance economic growth, heighten consumer protection, and foster business growth to benefit millions of citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.
The leaders of the European Union and of the United States directed the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) to establish a High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth, led by US Trade Representative Ron Kirk and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht. The Working Group was tasked to identify policies and measures to increase EU-US trade and investment to support mutually beneficial job creation, economic growth, and international competitiveness. Leaders asked the Working Group to work closely with all public and private sector stakeholder groups, and to draw on existing dialogues and mechanisms, as appropriate.
The High Level Working Group reached the preliminary conclusion that a comprehensive transatlantic trade and investment agreement, if achievable, would be the option with the greatest potential for supporting jobs and promoting growth and competitiveness across the Atlantic.
President Obama discussed U.S. participation in TTIP by stating in his annual State of the Union address, “I’m announcing that we will launch talks on a comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union -- because trade that is fair and free across the Atlantic supports millions of good-paying American jobs."
The Leaders of the United States and the European Union, based on recommendations from the final report issued February 11, 2013 by the U.S.-EU High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth co-chaired by United States Trade Representative Kirk and European Trade Commissioner De Gucht, that the United States and the European Union will each initiate the internal procedures necessary to launch negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. The high-level working group report recommended that the EU and the United States pursue a very high standard agreement with ambitious disciplines across a broad range of areas, including pressing for full elimination of tariffs, which in most cases are reasonably modest between our two economies, but making substantial progress on tackling and reducing non-tariff areas and addressing liberalization in areas of service investment, labor and the environment, among other issues.
The Obama Administration notified the U.S. Congress of its intent to enter into negotiations on a comprehensive trade and investment agreement with the European Union. Acting United States Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis noted in a letter to lawmakers that an ambitious, comprehensive, and high-standard agreement could significantly expand trade and investment between the United States and the European Union, generating new business and job opportunities. The Administration will hold regular and rigorous consultations with Congress and stakeholders on all elements of the agreement.
On May 29th and 30th, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in conjunction with the Interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), chaired a public hearing on U.S. negotiating objectives for the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement. Over sixty interested witnesses testified at the TTIP hearing, representing a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including manufacturers, farm groups, service suppliers, labor unions, consumer groups, environmental organizations, and state governments. USTR and other agencies engaged in a 90-day consultation process regarding the proposed TTIP agreement. USTR-led teams have held many meetings with Members of Congress, and USTR received more than 360 submissions on TTIP from a variety of stakeholders via an online Federal Register solicitation. This ongoing dialogue with Congress, the private sector, and the public has given USTR negotiators a valuable opportunity to hear from stakeholders before beginning the negotiations, and will ensure that the final TTIP agreement takes important public interests into account.
Prime Minister Cameron, European Commission President Barroso, and European Council President Van Rompuy and President Obama announce the start negotiations of a comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement. The U.S.-EU relationship is the largest in the world, making up nearly half of global GDP and involving trade of $1 trillion in goods and services each year and supporting around 13 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. U.S and European legislatures, regulators and civil society are called upon to play a constructive and engaged part in the negotiations.
United States Trade Representative Michael Froman issuea a statement at the conclusion of the first round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations welcoming the inaugural round in transatlantic relations. Each side presented to the other its ideas on how to proceed, how various chapters might be addressed, and how specific issues might be dealt with in an agreement. These very productive discussions set the stage for increased substantive engagement at a second round in the fall.
During the week’s first Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiating round, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) hosted a series of stakeholder engagement events to ensure that multiple perspectives and a balance of views informed U.S. negotiating positions. Approximately 350 global stakeholders gathered for a series of outreach events, including the direct stakeholder engagement event, stakeholder presentations, and a briefing by the Chief Negotiators from the United States and European Union. Negotiators took a break from their discussions to meet with and listen to presentations by approximately 50 stakeholders representing industry, small businesses, academia, labor unions, environmental groups, and consumer advocacy organizations. Stakeholders and negotiators traded insights and shared opinions in the open and productive forum. Stakeholders were also able to ask questions and share briefing materials with negotiators and other participants. Ambassador Froman stopped by the session to listen and share perspectives with stakeholders.
The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) hosted a public event that brought together a wide range of stakeholders to tackle questions about how TTIP benefits the public. Over 200 representatives of consumer groups, other civil society organizations, industry, media and both the EU and US government took part in lively debate and exchange on what is really at stake for consumers. Topics covered in speeches and discussion panels included food, data protection, financial regulation, intellectual property rights and transparency in the negotiating process.
Lead negotiators comment that the second round enabled both sides to probe more deeply into respective approaches to specific trade and investment issues, and discuss areas of potential convergence in greater detail, including with respect to services, investment, and regulatory issues.
United States Trade Representative Michael Froman stated, “In addition to the three rounds of negotiations we have conducted since we launched the negotiations in June, our teams have been engaging with each other between rounds, and working hard back home to prepare for productive meetings. It is a measure of progress that we are firmly in the phase of discussing proposals on core elements of each of the main negotiating areas, as well as beginning to confront and reconcile our differences on many important issues."
The U.S. and the EU negotiators took time to share information and hear viewpoints from more than 350 different stakeholders, from environmental groups, consumer, other nongovernmental organizations, labor, business, and academia. This included a three-hour session that consisted of more than 50 policy presentations that covered a range of issues, including consumer and food safety, innovation, and agriculture. These sessions offered the stakeholders an opportunity to provide negotiators valuable feedback on the negotiating objectives for TTIP as we proceed with these talks.
Teams of EU and U.S. negotiators met today in Brussels for the first day of a fourth round of week-long negotiations on TTIP. Negotiators began their work on covering different aspects of the agreement, including: Services, Labor, Rules of origin, Intellectual property, and regulatory sectory. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman stated “I’m generally pleased with the progress that U.S. and EU negotiators made this week in the major areas of the negotiations. We know we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we have a good understanding of the key issues that need to be resolved. It is critical that we keep our eye on the goal of an ambitious and comprehensive agreement that makes our economies stronger.”
The European Policy Center host the second event in the Transatlantic Perspectives on TTIP series, moderated by Hans Martens, EPC Senior Adviser. This policy dialogue will focused on the small business perspective and the challenges and opportunities TTIP offers for this important sector.
Hundreds of our citizens – from environmental, consumer and other non-governmental organizations, from labor unions, companies and academia, the media and others converged on Brussels for a stakeholder event that was held on March 12. During a non-stop 3 ½-hour session, divided by theme, some ninety participants detailed their TTIP views and expectations on a wide array of subjects. In the front rows were the two chief negotiators, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East Dan Mullaney and EU Chief Negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero, and/or members of their teams, asking the presenters direct questions.
A fifth round of EU-US trade talks took place in Arlington, Virginia from 19 to 23 May 2014. Negotiators discussed trade in goods and services, investment (however without investment protection/ISDS), regulatory issues, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, government procurement, intellectual property rights, electronic commerce and telecommunications, environment, labour, small and medium-sized enterprises, and energy and raw materials.
On Wednesday 21 May, the negotiators met with stakeholders from NGOs, consumer groups, trade unions, professional organizations, business and other civil society to discuss the on-going negotiations. A record number of stakeholder presenters took advantage of the opportunity to deliver presentations to U.S. and EU trade officials on the issues they cared about most. The more than 70 presentations throughout the day provided valuable feedback to help the US and the EU negotiate a T-TIP agreement that reflects the interests and values of our constituents.
On Friday May 23, the sixth round of the TTIP Negotiations closed in Washington. During the round, teams discussed tariffs, services and investment, government procurement – all areas where both sides indicated high ambitions for additional market access. Also highlighted, was work in the area of standards and regulations, which, from the beginning, was identified as both challenging and important for this agreement. Some of the range of sectors included medical devices, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, information communication technologies, automobiles, pesticides, and chemicals. In each of these sectors, effort is being made by exploring concrete cooperative work to realize cost savings and regulatory efficiencies while maintaining high standards.
On 14-18 July 2014, the sixth round of negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and the US took place in Brussels. All working groups that have met in previous rounds will come together to pursue the negotiations.
In the Management Centre Europe, Brussels – Over 70 presenters had the opportunity to explain their views on different aspects of TTIP to negotiators and other stakeholders. Groups like the Central Europe Energy Partners, Federation of Small Businesses and Public Citizen presented.
The closing press conference with EU chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero and U.S. chief negotiator Dan Mullaney ended the 6th round. Both sides were working on the basis of a consolidated text with a view to progressively reducing divergences. In addition, on agriculture, the Parties discussed the possibility of developing specific provisions relating to agricultural trade, wine and have exchanged views on non-tariff issues.
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