Keith Taylor (Verts/ALE), in writing. ‒ There are many issues that alarm me about TTIP, beyond the ‘new’ system proposed to replace ISDS, which still provides for a separate, parallel legal framework solely for investors. Another major concern that prompted me to vote against the recommendations to the Commission on the TTIP negotiations is regulatory cooperation, which mainly aims to reduce trade barriers in the form of differing laws, regulations and standards. Many of these differences have been adopted by countries to pursue policy goals unrelated to trade, such as the protection of the environment, public health and consumers. Under TTIP these democratic decisions are simply known as ‘non-tariff barriers to trade’ (NTBs). The resolution failed to convince me that appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that TTIP will not put downward pressure on a host of important regulations, thereby eroding hard-won social, environmental and health protections.

As Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s animal welfare intergroup, I am also worried about the threat TTIP poses to animal rights and protection. As the EU’s animal welfare regulations are much more advanced than those of the US, I fear that another negative result of reduced NTBs would be the lowering or undermining of standards that regulate animal welfare.