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Selling the Trans-Atlantic Trade Deal Selling the Trans-Atlantic Trade Deal
(35 minutes later)
President Obama delivered strong messages during his recent trip to Europe on the importance of European unity and of the trans-Atlantic alliance. In Britain, Mr. Obama weighed in on the question that will be put to British voters in a June 23 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union. “The European Union doesn’t moderate British influence,” he said. “It magnifies it.”President Obama delivered strong messages during his recent trip to Europe on the importance of European unity and of the trans-Atlantic alliance. In Britain, Mr. Obama weighed in on the question that will be put to British voters in a June 23 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union. “The European Union doesn’t moderate British influence,” he said. “It magnifies it.”
That was music to the ears of those who have argued that the only way Britain can influence the final terms of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or T.T.I.P. — a free-trade deal between the United States and the E.U. — is to stay in the union. Mr. Obama reinforced this thought in Hanover, Germany, on April 25, warning Europeans that, on trade, “You can’t turn inward.”That was music to the ears of those who have argued that the only way Britain can influence the final terms of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or T.T.I.P. — a free-trade deal between the United States and the E.U. — is to stay in the union. Mr. Obama reinforced this thought in Hanover, Germany, on April 25, warning Europeans that, on trade, “You can’t turn inward.”
But the T.T.I.P. is a hard sell in Europe. Many Europeans fear it will allow powerful corporations to force governments to weaken European food standards, environmental regulations and social welfare programs. A survey released on April 21 indicated that only 17 percent of Germans believe the trade partnership is “a good thing.” More than 40 European mayors and municipal representatives have signed a declaration demanding that “current negotiations” be suspended.But the T.T.I.P. is a hard sell in Europe. Many Europeans fear it will allow powerful corporations to force governments to weaken European food standards, environmental regulations and social welfare programs. A survey released on April 21 indicated that only 17 percent of Germans believe the trade partnership is “a good thing.” More than 40 European mayors and municipal representatives have signed a declaration demanding that “current negotiations” be suspended.
Sentiment against the deal is also running high in France — which has presidential elections next year. After a slew of pessimistic warnings on T.T.I.P. last week from members of his cabinet, President François Hollande declared on Sunday that France “will say no” to the T.T.I.P. if it is not reciprocal, endangers French agriculture or violates “environmental principles.”Sentiment against the deal is also running high in France — which has presidential elections next year. After a slew of pessimistic warnings on T.T.I.P. last week from members of his cabinet, President François Hollande declared on Sunday that France “will say no” to the T.T.I.P. if it is not reciprocal, endangers French agriculture or violates “environmental principles.”
Whether the deal can be closed before Mr. Obama’s term ends is an open question. That goal can’t be helped by documents leaked on Monday by Greenpeace that reveal to the public, for the first time, American positions going into last week’s T.T.I.P. negotiations in New York that indicate, as yet, irreconcilable differences with the E.U.Whether the deal can be closed before Mr. Obama’s term ends is an open question. That goal can’t be helped by documents leaked on Monday by Greenpeace that reveal to the public, for the first time, American positions going into last week’s T.T.I.P. negotiations in New York that indicate, as yet, irreconcilable differences with the E.U.
However it turns out, there are important lessons to be learned for the future. The first is transparency: The secretive nature of free-trade talks fuels citizen fears that powerful economic forces corporations are plotting behind closed doors against their interests. The European Commission has been posting all negotiating documents on its website, something the Americans should also have done. However it turns out, there are important lessons to be learned for the future. The first is transparency: The secretive nature of free-trade talks fuels citizen fears that powerful corporations are plotting behind closed doors against their interests. The European Commission has been posting all negotiating documents on its website, something the Americans should also have done.
The second is that the negotiating table should somehow be enlarged to include other voices — such as mayors, environmental groups or labor leaders. Ordinary citizens who do not feel informed and involved will inevitably fear that whatever is being negotiated is likely to do them more harm than good — making life difficult for the negotiators, decreasing the chances of success and insuring a backlash at the polls.The second is that the negotiating table should somehow be enlarged to include other voices — such as mayors, environmental groups or labor leaders. Ordinary citizens who do not feel informed and involved will inevitably fear that whatever is being negotiated is likely to do them more harm than good — making life difficult for the negotiators, decreasing the chances of success and insuring a backlash at the polls.