By Ari Giovenco, Director of Congressional Affairs
U.S. and European negotiators briefed Congressional staff from both the House and Senate regarding the status of the inaugural round of negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which began in Washington, D.C. this week.
Chief U.S. Negotiator Dan Mullaney, along with his European Commission counterpart Ignacio Garcia-Bercero made brief remarks, and then fielded substantive questions and engaged in a lively conversation on topics such as regulatory barriers, agriculture, State-owned enterprises (SOEs), market access, and transparency.
Chief Negotiators Dan Mullaney (US) and Ignacio Garcia-Bercero (EU) brief congressional staff on the status of the inaugural round of TTIP negotiations
Both negotiators highlighted the shared goals of creating jobs, promoting growth, and enhancing economic competitiveness on both sides of the Atlantic.
A wide range of bipartisan Congressional staff was present at the briefing including staff from Members who represent constituents with diverse interests in agriculture, manufacturing, technology and services.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is committed to robust Congressional consultations and transparency in its trade negotiations and welcomes the views of all Members of Congress and their staffs.
