The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) which is intensely discussed in the media as well political and economic interest groups and political parties seems to have the potential to become “the largest bilateral trade and investment negotiation ever undertaken” between two major politico-economic blocks, namely the United States of America and the European Union. Its presumable effects will not only be visible on the economic level, but also profoundly affect judicial, political, social , and security issues. Due to the financial and Euro zone crises, the pact is about to be reshuffled, politico-economical powers have to be balanced anew and governments look for innovative and sustainable ways to reinvigorate their economies to position their industries and enterprises in the most competitive way on a global level. In this paper, the question of to what extent will potential effects of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) Program affect (1) U.S. and (2) European Security Policy attitudes will be answered and the ways to get to this answer will be explained.
This paper does not intend to promote or reject the TTIP initiative in a biased way, but to factually show potential positive and negative effects it would have and to what extent it would affect the United States and the European Union.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The partners – a historical review
2.1 History: EU as an economic and political entity
2.2 The USA as a global player
3. TTIP
3.1 Development of an idea
3.2 Negotiations
3.3 Core elements of the contract
4. Effects of TTIP on both sides
4.1 Positive effects
4.2 Negative effects
5. Further effects on other areas than economics
5.1 Foreign politics and diplomacy
5.2 Security policies
6. Outlook
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper examines the potential impacts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) beyond purely economic consequences, specifically focusing on how the agreement influences U.S. and European security policy attitudes and diplomatic relations.
- Historical development and economic significance of the U.S. and EU partnership.
- Core components and negotiation processes of the TTIP agreement.
- Analysis of potential positive and negative impacts on national economies and civil society.
- Effects on non-economic spheres, including foreign policy, diplomacy, and security strategies.
- Critical outlook on transparency, public participation, and the future of global trade standards.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Negotiations
There have been four considerable rounds of negotiations on TTIP so far. The first round took place in July of 2013 in Washington, D.C. when “EU and U.S. negotiators set out respective approaches and ambitions in some twenty areas covered by the TTIP” and framed the guidelines for subsequent meetings. Originally, solidly text-based negotiations were planned to be held in October 2013, but the second round had to be postponed into mid-November 2013 because of the U.S. government shutdown, followed by a third round in mid-December in Washington, D.C. shortly after. The fourth round took place in early March 2014 in Brussels. Until now, no dates for future meetings have been published.
One can definitely see a clear difference in the state of consensus of the two negotiating parties. Whilst the U.S. is able to speak in a large part unanimously, the representatives of the EU have to take into consideration the individual demands, interests, and capabilities of commitment of 28 sovereign states. Economically strong states zealously support the TTIP initiative and strive to promote it in the most favorable way to gain public support. Member states with comparably less competitive economies show a greater degree of reluctance. A potential successful outcome thence mainly depends on the ability of the EU leadership as well as on the willingness of the respective EU member states to negotiate.
A major issue is the high level of secrecy the negotiations have been conducted so far. The general public, journalists, interest groups, and even politicians who were not directly involved did not have the possibility to contribute or to access relevant documents related to the content negotiations, a fact that until now “contrast[s] markedly with the relatively transparent financial and commodity market ruling making process.” The results of the negotiations are provided to the public only afterwards in extracts. Hence, the way the negotiations have been conducted so far is widely “inconsistent with basic principles of good governance and with the public’s right to informed, meaningful participation in what amounts to a public policy dialogue of profound national consequence on both sides of the Atlantic.” Particularly interest groups have complained about the opacity and barely democratic practice. This issue will be discussed later on in this paper, especially with regard to the broad effects of TTIP on various parts of civil society.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the scope of the TTIP, its potential global economic impact, and the research question regarding its influence on U.S. and European security policies.
2. The partners – a historical review: Outlines the historical evolution of the EU and the U.S. as global economic powers and their mutual dependency.
3. TTIP: Details the origin, the specific negotiation rounds, and the fundamental elements proposed within the trade agreement.
4. Effects of TTIP on both sides: Evaluates the potential benefits, such as reduced trade friction, against concerns like decreased democratic sovereignty and lower safety standards.
5. Further effects on other areas than economics: Explores the broader implications of TTIP on diplomatic relations and national security frameworks.
6. Outlook: Analyzes the future trajectory of the agreement and the necessity for increased transparency and public debate.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings, noting that while TTIP offers a visionary path for economic cooperation, it must address public concerns to succeed.
Keywords
TTIP, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, International Trade, European Union, United States, Security Policy, Economic Policy, Diplomacy, Investor State Dispute Settlement, Globalization, Free Trade, Regulatory Alignment, Public Transparency, Foreign Policy, Market Access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper provides a critical analysis of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), focusing not only on its economic dimensions but also on its wider impacts on security policy and diplomacy.
What are the central themes discussed?
The study covers the history of U.S.-EU economic relations, the specifics of TTIP negotiations, the potential economic gains, the risks to consumer standards, and the influence on global policy-making.
What is the primary research question?
The work investigates to what extent the potential effects of the TTIP program will affect the security policy attitudes of both the United States and the European Union.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author employs a descriptive and analytical approach, synthesizing current political developments, economic reports, and critical discourse from various stakeholders and interest groups.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main sections detail the development of the agreement, the structure of the negotiations, the arguments for and against the treaty, and the significant security and diplomatic implications of the pact.
What are the essential keywords characterizing the work?
The paper is defined by terms such as TTIP, economic partnership, security policy, transatlantic relations, regulatory barriers, and trade liberalization.
How does the author view the secrecy of the negotiations?
The author expresses significant concern regarding the lack of transparency, noting that the opaque nature of the talks contradicts principles of good governance and limits the public's ability to participate in meaningful policy dialogue.
What is the author's stance on ISDS?
The author highlights ISDS as a major point of contention, arguing that it potentially threatens democratic sovereignty by allowing corporations to bypass domestic courts and influence national legislation.
What is the outlook regarding the security industry's role?
The text suggests that TTIP could grant private defense companies greater influence over state security policies, potentially integrating private sector interests more deeply into national defense strategies.
Does the paper recommend rejecting the TTIP?
No, the paper maintains a neutral stance, aiming to present facts and identify potential risks so that policymakers can shape the final agreement more effectively and sustainably.
- Quote paper
- Stephanie Theresa Trapp (Author), 2014, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Side effects of an economic treaty on national security policy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/296209
