On the eve of a close vote in the European Parliament on two draft trade negotiation mandates with the United States, the EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, once again tried to reassure MEPs who had gathered for a plenary debate in Strasbourg on Wednesday 13 March.
On 14 March, the European Assembly will deliver its non-binding opinion on two draft negotiating directives with Washington, one regarding a trade agreement limited to non-agricultural market access, and the other on conformity assessments (see EUROPE 12175/1).
Trade ministers of the Member States agreed at the end of February to wait for the European Parliament's vote before endorsing the mandates (see EUROPE 12200/1).
In calling for European unity, Mrs Malmström urged EU officials to support her “well-balanced” and “positive” agenda with the United States, which would reduce trade tensions with Washington.
She also warned that this agenda could, under no circumstances, survive further negative measures from the Trump administration and she noted the conditions set out in these texts: no possible conclusions without a cancellation of US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the EU, or in the event of new tariffs. A sustainable development impact assessment will also be carried out by the Commission.
EPP remains divided
However, the vote in plenary will be close.
The left in the Chamber, including Socialists of the S&D Group, seem to be united against holding further negotiations with President Trump's administration. MEPs have protested in particular against the latter's disregard for US climate commitments and his negotiating strategy in light of the threat of new tariff sanctions (see EUROPE 12197/22).
In addition, on the right, there are cracks showing in the EPP unit, who are in favour of mandates.
Indeed, as the election campaign begins in France, French MEPs fear that the spectre of the previous TTIP mandate, which caused strong opposition in several western EU countries, will once more be raised.
Franck Proust (EPP, France) therefore asked, by way of an amendment, for guarantees that would predominantly concern the strict exclusion of any return to the TTIP mandate and, therefore, a return to the topic of agriculture in these talks (see EUROPE 12171/10). However, his amendments were not supported by his group. “I am sorry that the EPP did not wish to defend them. That is a mistake! I was asking for a repeal of the TTIP mandate to prevent everything from being mixed up in this. The TTIP is dead in the water. Let's bury it for good so that populists don't try to mix everything up so they can come up with better lies”, he said in a statement. “We don't want to be treated like an enemy of the United States. This means we have to be firm from the outset! Otherwise, we will never be respected”, he added.
Mr Proust and the other French members of his group might therefore be tempted by an abstention or even opposing the parliamentary resolution.
The integration of fisheries products into the mandate is also problematic for some States, including France, despite the relatively small volumes. However, this inclusion confirms that any future agreement complies with WTO rules (see EUROPE 12198/18).
No TTIP Part 2
Aware of the sensitivity of public opinion regarding the issue of the TTIP, Ms Malmström recalled, during the debate, that the TTIP had lapsed (see EUROPE 12200/1). The Commission is also reportedly studying ways of clarifying how the current procedure can be independent from that of the TTIP, thus ensuring that there no possible links are formed between the two procedures. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)