Brussels, 19/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 14-18 July, Brussels will host the sixth round of negotiations between the EU and the US on the transatlantic trade and investment partnership agreement (TTIP). The negotiations were started in July 2013. During the sixth round, the negotiators will continue their discussions on issues relating to trade in goods and services, regulation, public procurement, environmental protection and labour rights, energy and raw materials, and opportunities for SMEs, it was announced by the European Commission and US administration on Thursday 19 June.
As in previous sessions, the European and US negotiators will also spend a day with representatives from industry, NGOs, consumer groups, trade unions, professional bodies and civil society groups in order to listen to their points of view and keep them informed.
The fifth round of negotiations, in Arlington (Virginia) on 19-23 May, did not make any major breakthrough on the most sensitive issues (see EUROPE 11086). As regards market access, the discussions focused on tariff liberalisation, following an initial exchange of offers made in February. On the US side, the presentation of a revised offer (requested by the EU) had been promised but no detail was given on the timetable. The EU and the US must now decide on an initial exchange of offers on market access for services and on access to public procurement. The lion's share of the work is still to be done on non-tariff areas and regulatory convergence.
During the session in Arlington, the chief EU and US negotiators - Ignacio Bercero Garcia and Dan Mullaney respectively - again assured that the TTIP will not require a change of legislation or mean a lowering of the two partners' standards - particularly as regards food safety. “The United States has no intention of forcing Europeans to eat anything a European does not want to eat. That's not what this agreement is about”, Mullaney had told press. As regards hormone-injected beef, Bercero had ruled out any change of legislation, stating that this was a very clear principle right from the start of the negotiations. Concerning GMOs, the situation is “slightly different”, with around 50 GMOs being authorised in Europe, Bercero had conceded - while giving assurances that the GMO registration process would not be amended. Mullaney was more ambiguous, believing that decisions on this should be based on scientific assessment. Lastly, the two negotiators were cautious as regards the protection of geographical indications.
The issue of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) remains on hold until the consultation process undertaken by the European Commission on this controversial issue comes to an end (see EUROPE 11048). On 14 May, the Commission had made the EU's negotiating position public as regards regulatory convergence for five industrial sectors - chemicals, cosmetics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals and textiles (see EUROPE 11079).
Lastly, European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services Michel Barnier stated after a meeting with US Trade Representative Mike Froman on 12 June that he had not made progress in convincing the US administration to include a framework in the TTIP which would reduce the divergences between EU and US rules on financial services. “On this point, we still don't agree with the Americans”, Barnier had told press. The Americans are opposed to including financial services in the TTIP, believing that work in international bodies is enough on this. (EH)