Setback for TTIP as Congress holds on to trade powers

The US Senate refused on 12 May 2015 to give US President Barack Obama a mandate to neogtiate the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on its behalf. Had the mandate been approved, a faster conclusion of the talks with the European Union was expected.

A tenth round of talks was scheduled to take place in July 2015, following the ninth round which took place in April. Negotiations were taking longer than expected. The EU's chief negotiator had already said that talks would have to continue into 2016, despite an initial deadline of the end of 2015.

An unusual coalition of left-wing Democrats and Tea Party Republicans on 12 June 2015, voted to terminate the so-called trade adjustment assistance (TAA) programme, threatening a swift conclusion of the negotiations.

• Primary Source

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

EUObserver, 12.05.15: US to vote on pro-Israeli provisions in EU-US free trade https://euobserver.com/foreign/128677

EurActiv, 13.05.15: TTIP falters after Senate blocks Obama on free-trade initiative http://www.euractiv.com/sections/trade-society/ttip-falters-after-senate-blocks-obama-free-trade-initiative-314565

Politico, 26.05.15: House GOP split jeopardizes trade deal http://www.politico.eu/article/house-gop-split-jeopardizes-trade-deal/

EUObserver, 13.06.15: Congress harms prospects of EU-US trade pact https://euobserver.com/news/129095

Politico, 16.06.15: Obama’s trade plan in critical condition http://www.politico.eu/article/obama-trade-plan-critical/

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