Strasbourg, 24/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 23 October, the European Parliament gave a strong political signal in favour of ambitious free trade talks with the United States early next year, but says the EU's interests must be protected, particularly for agriculture.
The EP plenary adopted a report on 23 October by Vital Moreira (S&D, Portugal) calling for the launch in early 2013 of trade talks between the EU and the United States with view to signing a transatlantic trade deal by 2015 to stimulate world trade. A working group chaired by EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and US trade representative Ron Kirk may itself recommend when it publishes its final feasibility study report in December 2012 that talks should indeed be launched.
As recommended by the interim report of June 2012 (see EUROPE 10640), the European Parliament says that a free trade deal should be ambitious and lead to reciprocal opening of markets for goods, services and investment on either side of the Atlantic. It should also update trade rules and make regulations more compatible. Greater transatlantic trade must not, however, neglect to promote the EU's interests in terms of high environmental standards, cultural diversity, employment rights, consumer rights, financial services, public services and geographical indications. The Moreira Report indirectly states that the EU's farm interests must be carefully protected, along with the EU's exports of top-quality agricultural products to the United States.
Moreira said it would not be easy to reach agreement because the EU and the US have divergent interests on farming, shipping, GMOs and cloning, but these problems can be ironed out. He said it was important to ensure balanced protection for sensitive interests and industries, but the Parliament says it would be useful for the EU and US to make progress on removing trade barriers, improving access to the market, stimulating investment, opening up public procurement, harmonising rules of origin and moving towards mutual recognition of regulations. The removal of non-tariff barriers (customs procedures and beyond-the-border regulatory restrictions) are, he said, key to making the best possible use of the transatlantic trade potential. (EH/transl.fl)