Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) - Strengthening the World’s Largest Economic Relationship - 23 January 2014 Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership 1

Key messages 1.Trade treaties are about economic growth and about sustainability. 2.‘Nobody said it was easy’: Many diverse and sometimes conflicting interests and many different players play a crucial role in negotiations and in achieving a result. 3.Negotiations are always part of a democratic process, but cannot always be fully transparent. Both opportunities and concerns are part of the public debate. Politicians are accountable. 2

Multilateral vs bilateral 3

Bilateral agreements EU is negiotiating multiple agreements: US Japan India ASEAN Mercosur African regions And has concluded several others, amongst which: Canada South Korea Singapore 4

What are they about? Market access – goods and services Public procurement Investment SPS (food safety, animal health, plant health) TBT (technical barriers to trade) Intellectual property Sustainability Competition Rules of origin Trade facilitation Transparency 5

Competence of European Union Member states give European Commission a mandate to negotiate; Commission negotiates on behalf of 28 member states; During this process, Commission consults member states, businesses and civil society; At the end of negotiations, the deal has to be agreed upon by the European Parliament and the national parliaments of member states. 6

Competence of US federal government Congress agrees upon the negotiating directives of the administration after a three month period of comments; The US Trade Representative leads the negotiations and gains input of businesses and civil society; At the end of the negotiations, Congress has to ratify the trade deal. 7

TTIP 8 Negotiations started in 2013 Aim to finish in two years Benefits for both EU and US

“Groundbreaking” “And tonight, I am announcing that we will launch talks on a comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union – because trade that is free and fair across the Atlantic supports millions of good-paying jobs” -President Obama – (State of the Union, 13 February 2013) 9

Why TTIP? New market opportunities, economic growth, jobs and lower prices; Structural 545 Euro extra per European household. Important sectors in the Netherlands that benefit: Agriculture; Chemical industry; High tech; Maritime sector. 10

Sensitive issues Genetically modified organisms and hormone meat; Investment protection; Privacy; European social model. 11

Trade and development TTIP will have effects on third countries as well; Most studies show a positive effect; Keeping a close watch on how negotiations will impact third countries is priority. 12

Complex negotiations: stakeholders 13 EU: European Commission 28 member states European Parliament National parliaments US: Obama Administration 50 states Divided Congress

Complex negotiatons: interests 14

European Commission Actively engages businesses and civil society; After each negotiating round, the Commission and the US organize a joint stakeholder meeting; De Gucht announced a three month period for consultation on specifically the EU approach on investment protection in TTIP; Online information on DG Trade website, including EU position papers, press releases, studies. 15

The Netherlands: interests Dutch interests are both private and public; For a relative small country with high stakes, quality in negotiation process is leading; Get our message across and achieve the best result for NL. 16

Stakeholders in the Netherlands 17 Civil society Business Consumers Parliament

Transparency and Participation in NL Mandate of European Commission shared with Parliament confidentially; Technical briefings for Parliament; Broad consultation: businesses and civil society; Information via seminars and media. 18

As open as possible. However a certain level of confidentiality is necessary to be effective in negotiations and protecting your interests; Like playing chess on different boards: no-one starts by revealing his entire strategy to his counterpart from the outset; Still: the Commission and the member states involve stakeholders at every stage of the negotiations; At the end of the negotiations, member states and the European Parliament have to ratify it. 19 Transparency and Participation in NL

Input always welcome! 20