Have reports of TTIP’s death have been greatly exaggerated? The German Economy Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, has claimed that negotiations over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) have “de facto” collapsed.
The German government’s official position is still firmly committed to seeing the TTIP negotiations through. However, the upcoming loss of Britain from the EU means that the controversial trade deal will soon lose one of its biggest champions.
On the US side, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s rhetoric has forced Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to row back from her previously pro-free trade position. Could TTIP’s time have passed?
We had a comment sent in from Mark on our Suggest a Debate page, asking whether European product standards will fall with a US trade deal.
Critics of TTIP argue that European and American attitudes are irreconcilable. It’s a bit of a stereotype, but producers in the US are often characterised as being more focused on efficiency and innovation, at the expense of animal welfare and public health concerns.
In Europe, however, the “precautionary principle” applies. New technologies are automatically considered potentially harmful and must be demonstrated to be safe beyond a doubt before they can enter the market.
On the other hand, could overly-conservative European standards constitute a hidden form of protectionism? Products that have been available for decades in the US without evidence of harm to consumers, such as many Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), are often banned in Europe because the public is “overly-sensitive”. Likewise, chemically-washed meat, or animals treated with growth hormones, are not considered fit for European tables.
For its part, the European Commission argues that TTIP will not “overrule, repeal or amend EU legislation” without the European Parliament and all national parliaments getting a vote. They also say the ban on hormone-fed beef will not change under TTIP, nor will the EU system for deciding whether companies can sell a given GMO be up for discussion.
But will European citizens believe them? Will European product standards fall with a US trade deal? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below, and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
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The wealthy of Europe demand they be able to destroy the economy and culture for a few Euro more.
RIP
cade il TTIP e va avanti il CETA ? Dove sta la differenza ?
TTIP is dead ?….great news,
What is the purpose of TTIP for the United States if they will not manage to lower EU standards in order to gain more profit ? The TTIP is not finished, it’s just delayed, it will come back as CETA or another form. https://stop-ttip.org/about-cetacheck/
I don,t want yankee’s scum on my dish for a few more euros to fat eurocracy!
@Annibale Biagetti
RACIST!
I don,t want yankee’s scum on my dish for a few more euros to fat eurocracy!
Yes, not only standards, but consumer rights. No to TTIP, especially with the incompetent Malsmtrom in charge of negotiations. A person who shouldn’t even be in the EU commission. But hey, this is the EU where worthless politicians go to fill their pockets.
Yes, not only standards, but consumer rights. No to TTIP, especially with the incompetent Malsmtrom in charge of negotiations. A person who shouldn’t even be in the EU commission. But hey, this is the EU where worthless politicians go to fill their pockets.
Yes.
The excuse of ‘you don’t have to buy it’ as some EU MP’s advocate just doesn’t cut it. Just a simple trade deal that meet EU regulations. No corpororate buy up privatising our public services, no secret courts stealing tax-payer money.
With or without TTIP, the product standarts in the EU will not fall. It is amazing, how many people buy the propaganda against everything releated to the US. Yes, US politics is not always such as many of the Europeans wish to be, but the whole “arguments” against the trade agreement are simply hiden anti Americanism. Be honest, and simply say “I hate US” and not only the trade agreement.
Yes ! But one way or another : ” the ttip european -American deal fall apart , welcome now the all new TISA !
TTIP is designed to destroy all European standards. That is the entire reason for TTIP’s existance.
No.
Nah. News today was that the TTIP is dead
Like there are still many standards left…
I am very proud of my goods..especially
the food..I don’t need any chemical goods overseas.
I over disagree.
mais uma paranóia dos barrabas que gerem os nossos designios
Scampato Pericolo?
FORZA! Non siamo da soli !
Is Ttip anything to do with us anymore?
Is Ttip anything to do with us anymore?
“Would”, not “will”.
“Would”, not “will”.
Anyway, how could we know? Thru the leaked texts? How can we discuss these issues if the Treaty content is SECRET? Even Debating Europe can’t say this or that about the treaty because you didn’t have access to it.
Anyway, how could we know? Thru the leaked texts? How can we discuss these issues if the Treaty content is SECRET? Even Debating Europe can’t say this or that about the treaty because you didn’t have access to it.
What I know about TTIP: https://youtu.be/j0LOwmwgkdA
A bit longer but enlightening and based on NAFTA and how Canada became prey… https://youtu.be/j0LOwmwgkdA
Will European product standards fall with a US trade deal?
Yes, without doubt. And that is the intention.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUFE76-403s
And Naom Chomsky in this link ties it together with secrecy and the lobbyists behind it who make sure we, the people, remain the enemy. TTIP is just this move.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwpNsKvchPA
all the people …oversize…!
not …only us people…!
No. Cause that’s not gonna happen.
No passaran!
USA go to hell !
If our products standards fall, so will the European Union. Faster than you’ll believe…
yes, that’s why we want no deal with US, even our laws and constitutions would fall with a “free trade” agreement with them. Our fate is separate from their fate, they are not even near being a fake of democracy, just a vampiric militaro industrial complex, we don’t want to share their thief and assassin’s fate, we’d even better allie with Russian Fed if we have to than with them, they would just use us and throw us after use when sucked off .
@Franck Néo Legon
Balderdash!
The EU has its faults but in many ways [NOT all] it is superior to the EU.
As regards the Russian Federation – Russia is a great country but for the last c100 years, democracy is an anathema to it!
Who is the big “they”
……and more importantly when am I going to get sucked off?
Look at Yaoundé 1963 Pacts between MEC (CECA) and UOA.
Look at Yaoundé 1963 Pacts between MEC (CECA) and UOA.
What do you mean European standards? I thought we were barbarians eating animals while looking after of our clean transport and energy systems. ….
just like British Standards fell by conforming with EU standards
Europe has more expensive energy and better labor laws, therefore more expensive labor. We will be scr*wed so that the transatlantic oligarchs can have even more and more profits; the population of Europe offered up to the oligarchs as nice and obedient consumers by our spineless politicians.
Ps: the environment and sustainability are not a factor in the negotiations.
This alone should be illegal if the EU were not corrupt.
TTIP is the symbol of Europe’s corruption and the power of the oligarchs over all.
And they have the cheek to call it democracy and *fear for democracy* when the ppl speak out for their own interests.. Orwell is playing propeller in his grave…
I mean, what standards? Dieselgate? In Europe we can’t sue VW and consumers have just a software change that lowers performance while in the us they get money. All electronics come from the US or far east not from the EU
We may have more protection for labour but we have high unemployment and all new contracts have lower protections or the job would not be here. I think Europeans see themselves in a wrong way and that the Germans are mostly angry for dieselgate. Furthermore we’re surrendering a propaganda that puts us at the center of all, while we’re a suburb. Toouch arrogance from us is hurting us.
The fall of ttip will bel the start of european marginalization.
TTIP should’ve been separated into sections, each one treating separately the own matter.
Yes but the banking sistem will be covered up better by the Business schools!:)
Sigmar wants political points . He just lied for the points ! Futhermore I see soon UK free trading with the U.S. which is bad for the E.U. .
@Serge Lauer
Very astute posting! :)
The USA is nearly the equal of the EU-28, when the UK leaves the EU (its 2nd biggest economy) and then when you add Canada never mind Mexico – the EU will be truly, well and positively inferior to the Anglo-FTA.
Given that China is scheduled to overtake the USA as-is and the EU as-is in the next few years, the EU is a dead man balking…
“For its part, the European Commission argues that TTIP will not “overrule, repeal or amend EU legislation” without the European Parliament and all national parliaments getting a vote.”
The EU wants a contract, which says, nothing will happen and nothing will change? Very strange.
I agree the lack of transparency about the deal make it difficult to discuss the ramifications of the deal. And I support the moral aspects of consumerism within Europe (however lacking they are in many ways). I do however see a certain amount of “nanny state ethos” going off which in my mind runs counter intuitive to the Darwinian principles.
There are different protection principles in Europe to the USA, if a company in the USA sells something fundamentally dangerous or that does not work, they can be sued. Very easily and by everyone who bought the product. In Europe we test and test to assure safety before it’s allowed to be sold. It is a difference that will need to be addressed before trade can be eased in any serious manner.
This question is irrelevant anyway. As Trump ‘will be’ President of the USA within a few months and he intends to scupper the entire programme. Thank goodness. At least he knows what it means to us all and where it is leading. I love his reluctance to bend to the politically correct machine that is so detrimental to all of us.
Listen to his future plans. It gives some idea of where he is headed. And ridding us of TTIP is part of it. If I was an American I would vote for him on this one factor alone and I am in no way of the Republican ilk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-77QgKuzmo