Brussels, 18/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - The sixth round of free-trade negotiations between the EU and USA (TTIP) in Brussels this week (14-18 July) have not brought a breakthrough - but led to “intense discussions” in all the areas covered by the future agreement, said the chief European negotiator, Ignacio Garcia Bercero, at the end of work on Friday 18 July. “Eminently technical but essential work for the political decisions that will have to be taken later in these negotiations”, he added. European and American negotiators want to progress as much as possible before a new political stock-taking meeting in October between European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht and US Trade Representative Mike Froman. A fresh technical session is planned for September.
As regards market access, the EU has “very lofty ambitions” in each of the three areas (tariffs, services and government procurement) in this section, Bercero stated. This week, the negotiators held “very detailed” discussions on the basis of the respective offers presented (but still not exchanged) in May as regards services, which “reflect a very high level of commitment”, said Bercero. In this area, the EU wants “the same level of ambition as that reached with South Korea”. The US party “only envisaged very little exclusion”, said US negotiator Dan Mullaney - without giving further detail. As regards government procurement, the two parties expressed their desire to improve access to public procurement at all levels, and on a national treatment basis, said Bercero. “We have discussed the way in which we will be able to meet our ambitions”, he added.
As far as regulatory convergence is concerned, the negotiators continued the technical work - with the support of European and US regulators. “Intense work” continued on the regulatory compatibility in key industrial sectors (pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals, automotive, textiles, medical devices, engineering, and new technologies), on technical barriers to trade (TBT), and on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS). A consolidated text is on the table for the second matter and the negotiators hope for texts on the two other issues in September.
Lastly, as regards rules, discussions continued on the chapter on sustainable development (labour law and environmental standards) and on the issue of energy and raw materials, for which the EU wants a separate chapter. The two parties are very close to a consolidated text for SMEs, telecoms, and trade facilitation, said Bercero. The negotiators had good discussions this week on the state to state dispute settlement mechanism. (EH)