Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 March 2014
18. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on the negotiations between the EU and the US on a transatlantic trade and investment partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12176/14]
View answerSince TTIP talks started in July 2013, there have been three Rounds of talks, with a further five scheduled during 2014. The fourth Round started this week. Among the topics covered are Trade in Services, Regulatory Coherence, Customs and Trade Facilitation, Intellectual Property Rights, Sustainable Development, Government Procurement, Market Access, Technical Barriers to Trade among other topics. A political stocktake meeting between the principal negotiators, Commissioner Karel de Gucht and United States Trade Representative Mr Michael Froman, took place on 17 and 18 February. This meeting looked at all issues across the negotiating agenda and discussed the best means to keep the negotiations moving forward with the pace and energy that both sides have demonstrated to date.
My Department has encouraged the Commission to seek an ambitious programme of tariff reductions when compiling its initial exchange of offers on goods, that took place last month. The quickest possible removal of tariffs will lower business trading costs and will bring wider competitiveness and consumer benefits. While current tariffs are already low on trade, even these can act as a tax on trade that in reality serves no purpose. This early exchange of offers did not include sensitive agriculture products. What the EU is prepared to offer in this sector will be considered separately and much later in the negotiating process.
In addition to coordinating the interests of other Departments, enterprise development agencies and business associations to promote our strategic interests in the TTIP, my Department recently engaged international expertise to examine the economic and other impacts of TTIP and related potential opportunities. The focus of this study, being undertaken by Copenhagen Economics, will be to identify how any agreement will affect the economy. Consequently, I am arranging for the consultants to meet with the widest possible range of stakeholders over the coming weeks. This work will help to inform my input to the Commission’s negotiating position.
On 27 January the Commission announced the setting up of a special Advisory Group, including environmental, health, consumer, workers', business and NGO interests, to provide EU negotiators with high quality advice in the areas covered by TTIP talks. This forms part of the Commission’s commitment to outreach and transparency, to explain what is involved in the TTIP and to hear the widest possible views from civil society.
