EU faces tough sell on TTIP compromise

Preview and reports of the of the 12th round of TTIP negotiations between the European Union and the United States, Brussels, 22 - 26 February 2016.

As the session came to an end on the 26 February 2016 the Commission said 'the EU and US finished 12th round of talks on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Negotiators worked towards the objective of achieving an ambitious, high standard TTIP agreement that responds to both EU and US interests. They remain ready to seek to conclude our negotiations in 2016, provided that the substance is right'.

The negotiations during the 12th Round were the first time that the two sides had discussed the EU proposal for an investor court system (ICS), which was announced in late 2015 as a substitute for the controversial investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: German judges oppose proposed TTIP courts http://www.europeansources.info/record/german-judges-oppose-proposed-ttip-courts/

ESO: Key Source: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) http://www.europeansources.info/record/transatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-ttip/

EUObserver, 16.02.16: EU urges US to 'step up' on free trade talks https://euobserver.com/economic/132279

EurActiv, 18.02.16: Farmers fear for their future as new TTIP round opens http://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/farmers-fear-for-their-future-as-new-ttip-round-opens/

EUObserver, 22.02.16: TTIP: EU offered 97% cut on US tariffs, secret papers show https://euobserver.com/economic/132376

EUObserver, 22.02.16: EU aims for free trade pact before Obama goes https://euobserver.com/economic/132382

ESO: Background information: 11th Round Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Negotiations http://www.europeansources.info/record/11th-round-transatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-negotiations/

European Commission: DG Trade: TTIP – 12th round of talks, 22-26 February http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1454

Notre Europe: Newsletter on TTIP http://www.delorsinstitute.eu/011020-1316-Read-our-newsletter.html

EurActiv, 23.02.16: France seeks guarantees for national sovereignty in adoption of TTIP http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/france-seeks-guarantees-for-national-sovereignty-in-adoption-of-ttip/

Politico, 25.02.16: 5 things to watch on TTIP http://www.politico.eu/article/5-things-to-watch-on-ttip-eu-us-trade-european-commission/

Politico, 25.02.16: US trade negotiator: We don’t want ‘TTIP lite’ http://www.politico.eu/article/ambitious-trade-deal-will-not-be-ttip-lite/

EurActv, 26.02.16: Negotiators aim to sign TTIP this year http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/negotiators-aim-to-sign-ttip-this-year/

European Commission: DG Trade: News, 26.02.16: 12th round of TTIP talks picks up the pace for a high standard deal http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1467

EUObserver, 26.02.16: TTIP: US yet to approve EU investor court plan https://euobserver.com/economic/132478

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