Brussels, 19/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - EU-US relations are not just about chlorine chicken, GMOs or BSE (bovine spongiform encephalitis). “We are Transatlantic partners, friends and allies”, stated Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan in a speech to the Agricultural Outlook Forum in Virginia, United States.
He went on to say: “We have a common moral, commercial and geopolitical interest in working together to tackle the global challenge of food security”.
He argued it was in the best interest of the EU and the US to agree on what unites them, through the TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership). He also made the point that a balanced TTIP will facilitate the work of our business operators “without undermining our standards of health and environment protection”.
For the TTIP to be successful, Hogan said, a series of issues, going beyond tariffs, need to be addressed, “since most of the benefits of TTIP will result from increased regulatory convergence”. He felt that the two parties must avoid “future obstacles” over regulatory standards. Regulatory compatibility, streamlining of procedures and cutting red tape would facilitate not only the access of products to the respective markets, but also eliminate unnecessary administrative costs and procedures, the commissioner underlined. Bureaucratic burdens represent a dissuasive element for exporters, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, he stated.
Hogan highlighted the importance of EU geographical indications, which represent 30% of EU agri-food exports to the US and are worth €3.4 billion.
He also laid emphasis on the complementary roles of the US and the EU on the global market, and on the fact the two partners were neck and neck: EU agri-food exports were worth €120 billion, or $135 billion, in 2013 and US agri-food exports stood at €140 billion. (Lionel Changeur)