2/4/2019 (Agence Europe) – The directives for negotiations with the United States on industrial products and conformity assessment are being discussed in the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) on Wednesday, 3 April. Faced with the broad support of the other Member States, the Presidency decided to expedite the agenda, thus driving a relatively isolated France into a corner (see EUROPE 12225/14). This decision follows the conclusions of the European Summit recommending mandates be approved quickly. Sources confirm that the revised texts of the mandates do not yet include any reference to the TTIP mandate (ex-TAFTA) so as to exclude any return to it. Thus, the Coreper discussion does not mean that the mandates will be able to be adopted. A final discussion could still be considered the following week, allowing the mandates to be formally approved by mid-April at the latest. The French representation to the EU did not wish to comment at this stage. (HD)