All-Party Parliamentary Group on EU-US Trade & Investment
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations
EU and US trade negotiators will meet in Brussels from the 7th – 11th October for the second round of negotiations under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. The EU negotiators will be led by Commission Chief Negotiator Ignacio Garcia-Bercero, and the US side led by USTR Chief negotiator Dan Mullaney. Below are links to the respective EU and US negotiating teams.
EU team: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2013/july/tradoc_151668.pdf
US team: http://www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/lead%20negotiators%20list%20TTIP.pdf
A third round of negotiations is expected to be held the week of December 16th in Washington D.C.
Readout from the First round of negotiations
The first round of negotiations held in Washington D.C. July 8th-12th established a structure with more than 20 parallel negotiating groups and focused on defining the scope of the negotiations. Negotiators met with more than 350 stakeholders from trade unions, NGOs, academia and the private sector to discuss priorities and concerns. In addition Commission negotiators held a separate debriefing with civil society representatives on the 16th of July.
Minutes from civil society dialogue: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2013/july/tradoc_151656.pdf
Commission negotiators have in addition to the civil society dialogue made a number of initial position papers publicly available, and negotiators have indicated that they will be continuing a dialogue with civil society going forward.
EU position papers: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=943
In the US the USTR has launched a series of round table discussions to elicit comments on difficulties small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) encounter when exporting to the EU. The International Trade Commission will also be conducting an impact assessment specifically for US SMEs.
http://www.ustr.gov/SBA-Launch-New-Effort-Help-US-Small-Businesses-Export-EU
The Commission has announced that it will be launching an independent Sustainability Impact Assessment. The study is expected to be started in November and to include a further focus on an agreement’s impact on jobs.
Parliamentary support and scrutiny
The British American Parliamentary Group, in partnership with the Ditchley Foundation, will host a panel discussion on October 30th in the Speaker’s House from 1.00PM to 2.30 PM. The discussion will focus on “EU/US free trade: how to overcome political and economic obstacles to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership”. Lord Robertson, Chair of the Ditchley Foundation, will introduce the discussion and panelists, which will include the EU Chief negotiator, Ignacio Garcia-Bercero. For more information contact mitchellhk@parliament.uk.
BAPG will also be sending a Foreign Office sponsored specialist delegation to the US to help build momentum and mobilise support for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership in early November.
The EU Sub-Committee on External Affairs of the House of Lords has initiated an inquiry into the TTIP, and has called for written evidence by October 10th. The Committee will be holding a series of public hearings from October and into 2014. The Committee aims to report to the House with recommendations in the first half of 2014. For further information see www.parliament.uk/hleuc.
BritishAmericanBusiness activities
BritishAmericanBusiness has launched a nation-wide series of road shows to reach out to SMEs and beyond the traditional policy community in London. Expert panels of speakers introduce discussions on the benefits and effects of a proposed deal. Panelists include business leaders, UKTI
Advisors and Local and National MPs. Road-shows will be held in:
Edinburgh – November 5th
Newcastle – December 4th
For more information see: www.tradeinvest.babinc.org
New Ambassadors
President Obama has nominated Anthony Luzzato Gardner as ambassador to the EU to succeed ambassador William Kennard. His appointment is subject to confirmation by the US Senate.
The new US ambassador to the Court of St James, ambassador Matthew Barzun, took up his duties at the US embassy on August 23rd. http://london.usembassy.gov/ukpapress137.html
Ivan Rogers, Prime Minister Cameron’s advisor on Europe and global affairs, has been appointed to succeed Sir Jon Cunliffe as UK ambassador to the EU from November 1st.
APPG EU-US Trade and Investment – Previous activities
- May 21, 2013 group launch and Annual General Meeting. For terms of reference and membership see:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/register.pdf
- June – APPG bulletin distributed following launch of negotiations
- July 8, 2013 Meeting with Rt Hon Ken Clarke, MP, supported by trade minister Lord Green and senior BIS/Cabinet Office civil servants
- July 18th Commons debate led by the Group on EU-US transatlantic trade and investment, secured via Backbench Business Committee
- September 3, 2013 – Internal discussion of Group’s work program. Secretariat established. http://tradeinvest.babinc.org/eu-us-trade/all-party-parliamentary-group/
Please contact the group Chair, Mr. John Healey MP, or Secretary, Mr. Guto Bebb MP for further information and to join the group.
John Healey MP
Contact James Hall james.hall@parliament.uk
Guto Bebb MP
Contact Siwan Puw siwan.puw@parliament.uk
Secretariat: Elisabeth Roderburg
TTIP Adviser BritishAmerican Business Eroderburg@babinc.org