Brussels, 15/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - New European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström sang the benefits of the future transatlantic trade and investment partnership agreement (TTIP) during a visit to the French authorities in Paris on Monday 15 December.
After a meeting with the French secretary of state for foreign trade, Matthias Fekl, Malmström called on France (in a speech made in French at the Paris Dauphine-La Sorbonne university, which she had frequented during her university studies) to hold strong against the siren song of protectionism.
“I'm liberal and I'm well aware of the fact that in France this is a heavy label to wear. But being liberal doesn't mean being ultra-liberal. I don't believe that liberalism must be the 'fox in the chicken coop' as Jaurès said. I believe in the freedom of enterprise, the freedom of thought, and the responsibility of each man. My liberalism is that of Simone Veil - a liberalism that puts man and social justice at the centre of its priorities”, she said.
Stating that one person in ten in France owes his job to exports to the rest of the world, “with salaries generally higher than the average”, Malmström urged France to take advantage of the enormous surge in demand, 90% of which will come from outside Europe in the next 20 years. “The jobs of the future are linked to trade. Trade policy can create opportunities in the areas where France is strong - and there are many”, she said, quoting activities linked to public procurement - energy, engineering, rail and urban transport - an area “often closed to international trade”. Recent free trade agreements concluded with South Korea and Canada “are for the first time opening up very profitable public procurement. This is of course one of the main objectives of the negotiations with the USA”, Malmström argued.
Mentioning France's strength in the areas of medicines and medical devices, Malmström also stressed the gains of the regulatory accounting that will result from TTIP. In addition, she spoke about the advantages of the future agreement for the French agri-food sector, with the planned reduction in US customs duties, which can reach 140% - especially on cheese. (EH)