Brussels, 01/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - In his address at the EU Agricultural Outlook Conference in Brussels on Tuesday 1 December, European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan called for a “balanced” agreement with the United States on the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP).
During the conference, at which US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (see EUROPE 11442) also took part, the commissioner suggested the benefits of TTIP for the EU and the United States could be enormous. “But we all know that agriculture is a real challenge as the US is very competitive in sectors where we have higher costs”, he noted. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that the parties will agree “a balanced outcome that will have the support of Europe's farm sector”. However, to achieve that balance, and to get the weight of the farm groups, member states and the European Parliament behind TTIP, “Europe will need some gains too”. Hogan argued for “real access” for the European milk and dairy products sector, “which faces tariff peaks and sanitary barriers” at the present time. In addition, the EU is calling for protection of geographical indications in the US, particularly for wines. “I think this is all do-able in 2016. But we need to start negotiating these things now”, Hogan stated. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)