| Author (Person) | Fox, Benjamin |
|---|---|
| Series Title | EUObserver |
| Series Details | 24.05.13 |
| Publication Date | 24/05/2013 |
| Content Type | News |
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On 24 May 2013 EUObserver predicted that at the meeting of EU trade ministers on 14 July 2013 governments were expected to agree on an EU mandate for the European Commission to open negotiations on an ambitious bilateral trade deal with the United States at the next meeting of EU trade ministers. Separately in a European Parliament Resolution adopted on the 23 May 2013, the Parliament said that it must be kept on board in talks with the US on what could become the world's largest free trade area. MEPs strongly favoured starting the talks, but also stated their expectations, e.g. as regards opening up access to the US procurement market and safeguarding the EU's cultural and audiovisual services market. This resolution was the European Parliament's input to the EU negotiating mandate. On the 27 May 2013, EurActiv reported that Mexico was concerned about the possible consequences of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), according to the spanish MEP Ricardo Cortés Lastra. EUObserver reported on the 12 June 2013 that Germany had dropped its opposition to starting talks on an EU-US free trade agreement, leaving France alone to fight for exemptions for European artists. Reports on the 14 June 2013 suggested that attempts were being by the European Commission and other Member States to overcome French resistance to the start of the trade negotiations. France was trying to shield French-language culture from the global might of Hollywood. It had refused to join the 26 other EU governments that wanted talks to start in July 2013 unless films and digital media were left out of any deal. EU Trade Ministers discussed the issue on the 14 June 2013. At the meeting France rebuffed a last-minute concession over its cultural industries intended to overcome French objections to the formal launch of EU-US trade talks at the Group of Eight summit the following week. |
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| Source Link | http://euobserver.com/economic/120211 |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry, Culture, Education and Research, Trade |
| Countries / Regions | Europe, United States |
