Press Release: European Commission Fires Starting Gun for EU-US Trade Talks

On 12 March 2013, the European Commission agreed the draft mandate for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement with the United States, effectively firing the starting gun for what is hoped to be a relatively quick negotiation. The draft mandate was then sent to the Council for the Member States to approve it before negotiations can start.

In February 2013, President of the United States of America Barack Obama, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy announced they were each starting the internal procedures necessary to launch negotiations on the much awaited trade agreement. The negotiations will be based on the work of the EU-US High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth co-chaired by Commissioner De Gucht and United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: European Union and United States to launch negotiations for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-european-union-and-united-states-to-launch-negotiations-for-a-transatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership/

European Commission: Rapid: MEMO/13/211: Independent study outlines benefits of EU-US trade agreement http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-211_en.htm

European Commission: Rapid: MEMO/13/213: Statement by President Barroso on the transatlantic trade negotiation mandate http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-213_en.htm

European Commission: Rapid: MEMO/13/212: European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht: A negotiating mandate for a trade and investment agreement with the United States http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-212_en.htm

ESO: Background information: EU leaders throw weight behind US trade talks http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-leaders-throw-weight-behind-us-trade-talks/

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