TTIP trade talks ‘undermined’ by secrecy: Cable

While acknowledging the benefits of liberalising trade – as part of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) – Cable told EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström that public concern about the talks was mounting.

“I dislike the level of secrecy that has surrounded the transatlantic trade deal so far and can completely understand why some people are worried,”​ said Cable. “I have met many campaign groups over the last nine months to discuss this and taken on board many of their concerns. I will be working to ensure all British interests are protected and that the deal can be properly scrutinised.” ​

Cable urged a greater transparency to allay pubic concerns that a trade deal would compromise EU standards on food and the environment.

‘US businesses will have to raise their game’​

“As with the NHS​ [National Health Service], our high standards, when it comes to the environment or food, are not up for negotiation,”​ said Cable. “If we can recognise mutually high standards with the US we will do so. But where we can’t, US businesses will have to raise their game to meet our higher standards, not the other way around.”​

Some people in Britain questioned what was on the TTIP negotiating table and worried Europe and the US have something to hide, he said. But that was untrue and the talks should be held in public as much as possible.

Cable also wanted to see the the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) tightened up. “Some people fear that investors could sue us for losses and win if the government takes a decision – on health, the environment or consumer safety – in the wider public interest. We must demonstrate clearly that this could never happen.”​

Malmström said forging a deal on TTIP will be a big challenge but worth the effort.

‘We can both win’​

“I am positive we will both ​[EU and US] get an agreement because we can both win,”​ Malmström told BBC Radio 4’s Today​ programme yesterday (February 17).

“This is the most ambitious trade deal attempted by the EU but it is a win-win situation for both parties.” ​See the TTIP infographic below produced by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

The Food and Drink Federation told FoodManufacture.co.uk last month TTIP was “a win-win situation”​​ for UK food and drink manufacturers.

Meanwhile, pressure groups such as the Friends of the Earth (FoE) continued to argue that TTIP will damage the environment and undermine democracy. FoE lead TTIP campaigner Sam Lowe warned on the group’s website: “EU plans for an energy chapter in TTIP, and efforts to push the US to reduce restrictions on the export of crude oil and shale gas, will serve to lock us into a high-carbon future.​

“TTIP will put downward pressure on EU food safety, health and environmental standards.”​

Also, the ISDS mechanism will be used to challenge, obstruct and delay pro-environment legislation, he said.

“One thing is for sure: our elected representatives are now really starting to get that TTIP is a toxic issue. This time last year pretty much none of them had heard of it, now they’re spitting acronyms with the best of them,”​ said Lowe.

FoE will support a day of protest against TTIP on April 18.