Brussels, 30/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - Nearly all the TTIP subjects will be tackled at the eighth round of negotiations, in Brussels on 2-6 February, where the US negotiator in chief, Dan Mullaney, and his team will meet the European negotiator in chief, Ignacio Bercero, and his experts. The Commission says it is expecting progress in particular on regulatory issues next week.
As regards the market access section, in-depth discussions are expected on tariffs and market access for services, on the basis of offers on the table, and access to government procurement - which remain the “top priority” for the EU and “the most sensitive issue in the US”, said a source close to the file at the Commission on Friday 30 January.
As regards the regulation section, the Commission hopes for progress on the horizontal disciplines (technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and regulatory coherence). “We are very close to the point when we will have a consolidated text on the three pillars”, which means a joint proposal could see the light of day after this eighth round of negotiations, in the view of this source. As regards regulatory coherence, the EU - which would like an entity to be set up that would guarantee continuous dialogue between the EU and US regulators to ensure regulatory convergence - is still awaiting a response from the US.
The parties will also continue their work on sectoral regulatory convergence, which has thus far produced constant progress. Eight key sectors are involved (pharmaceuticals, automobiles, chemicals, textiles, cosmetics, medical devices, engineering and pesticides).
With the exception of competition policy, all the subjects in the rules section will be addressed (energy and raw materials, customs and trade facilitation, intellectual property - including geographical indications - and SMEs). By contrast, the negotiations on investment protection remain frozen, awaiting the debate inside the EU about including an ISDS mechanism (which the US wants).
The next rounds are still to be scheduled although the Commission already envisages two new sessions in April in the US, and then in Brussels before the summer break. (EH)