TTIP

TTIP trade deal: will new measures weaken Governments’ power to act in the public interest?

By Nicolette Butler Filed Under: All posts, Europe Posted: April 28, 2016

One of the biggest bones of contention in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks centres on the proposed Investment Court System. Critics are concerned that the ‘investor-state dispute settlement’ mechanism could weaken the power of governments to act in the best interests of their people. Whilst the EU Commission has sought to allay critics […]

How the danger from the EU-US trade agreement TTIP still lurks in the fine print

By Gabriel Siles-Brügge Filed Under: All posts, Europe Posted: April 26, 2016

Controversy surrounding the UK’s trading relationship with the US continues, following President Barack Obama’s visit here. Whilst investment protection remains the key issue in the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks, Gabriel Siles-Brügge argues that a key danger is being ignored: the agreement’s cross-cutting regulatory provisions. This week sees the 13th round of […]

Why Brexit is a bad idea if you want to avoid the effects of TTIP

By Gabriel Siles-Brügge Filed Under: All posts, Brexit Posted: March 11, 2016

While prominent left-wing critics of the EU argue that Britain can avoid the worst excesses of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership by leaving the EU, Dr Gabriel Siles-Brügge argues that a Brexit may actually be counterproductive. Stiglitz and the left ‘Brexiters’ ‘I think that the strictures imposed by TTIP [the Transatlantic Trade and Investment […]

TTIP- Time to focus on the big stuff

By Ferdi De Ville and Gabriel Siles-Brügge Filed Under: All posts Posted: October 12, 2015

On Saturday, a number of demonstrations were held across Europe to protest against TTIP and other trade agreements (notably the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement [CETA], the Trans-Pacific Partnership [TPP] and the Trade in Services Agreement [TiSA]). Next week, EU and US officials will return to the negotiating table in Miami for the 11th […]

Inequality: What is to be done?

By David Hulme Filed Under: All posts, Featured Posted: June 30, 2015

Professor David Hulme tackles the problem of rising global inequality. Over the past few years there has been a wealth of research demonstrating the perils of inequality – both in the rich world and in developing countries. Studies have shown that increasing levels of inequality bring greater social problems and can act as a brake […]

Beyond the headlines on TTIP: Beware the fine print

By Gabriel Siles-Brügge and Nicolette Butler Filed Under: All posts, Europe, Featured Posted: June 1, 2015

Although much of the criticism in the UK of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has focused on the NHS and ‘corporate tribunals’, Gabriel Siles-Brügge and Nicolette Butler argue that this overlooks one of its central purposes: a series of provisions that could make it more difficult for governments to regulate in the public […]

Honest debate needed on TTIP – not simplistic slogans

By Ferdi De Ville and Gabriel Siles-Brügge Filed Under: All posts, Europe, Featured Posted: February 20, 2015

European Commissioners calling the adoption of the TTIP trade agreement a ‘no-brainer’ is not conducive to the honest debate on the EU-US free trade agreement that is needed, argue Ferdi De Ville and Gabriel Siles-Brügge. European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and European Financial Services Commissioner Jonathan Hill have written that concluding the Transatlantic Trade and […]

An unhealthy partnership?

By Neil Perkins and Jonathan Hammond Filed Under: Featured Posted: February 18, 2015

MPs have just had a bitterly divided debate on what the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will mean for the NHS. Neil Perkins and Jonathan Hammond consider the evidence. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a trade deal currently being negotiated between the European Union and the United States. If TTIP goes ahead, […]

Five reasons why TTIP is like a troublesome teapot

By Robert Watt Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted: November 25, 2014

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is like a tea-pot – but a troublesome one, argues Robbie Watt. Known as ‘tee-tip’ for short, the proposed major international trade deal between the European Union and the United States is one that might determine the future shape of the global economy for decades. Backed up with commentary from academics, […]

Negotiations making it harder to ‘sell’ free trade

By Gabriel Siles-Brügge Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted: November 25, 2014

Trade negotiations are increasingly impinging on the way economies are regulated domestically, making it harder to ‘sell’ free trade, argues Dr Gabriel Siles-Brügge. ‘The European economy stands or falls on our ability to keep markets open, to open new markets, and to develop new areas where Europe’s inventors, investors, and entrepreneurs can trade’, said the […]