TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership)

22.10.2014

Question for written answer E-008225-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Aldo Patriciello (PPE)

The EU is the US's largest trading partner, and vice versa. Their combined economies account for around half of global economic output and almost a third of world trade.

The purpose of the TTIP negotiations is not only to lower customs tariffs and duties on trade between the EU and US, which are already fairly low (in the order of 3-4%), but also to remove non-tariff barriers by simplifying regulation.

Given the far-reaching nature of the agreement, the process of regulatory convergence required in order to achieve closer cooperation between the regulatory authorities is particularly complicated, especially when it comes to setting food and environmental safety standards.

In order to maintain the quality standards established by European policies, practical ways of making EU and US rules and regulations more mutually compatible need to be found and appropriate safeguards need to be put in place for EU citizens.

Faced with this opportunity to take a further step forward in the process of opening up the world economy, how will the Commission ensure that European food and environmental standards are protected and complied with, or even improved, to the benefit to both EU and US citizens?