Greenpeace Netherlands releases explosive documents on just concluded U.S.-Europe trade talks
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Greenpeace Netherlands released leaked documents comprising approximately half of the draft negotiating text for the massive U.S.- European Union trade deal as of the time of the start of last week’s negotiations in New York City on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement. The leaked documents show that the TTIP deal between the two largest economies in the world presents an across-the board threat to environmental and climate action in both the U.S. and Europe. The leaked documents also confirm that the TTIP would establish institutions and procedures to quash environmental regulations before they can even be promulgated.
Bill Waren, senior trade analyst at Friends of the Earth U.S. had this comment:
We now have documentary proof that the U.S.-EU trade deal promises climate disaster by ramping up U.S. oil and gas production and exports to Europe. Sensible regulatory safeguards, such as those related to food safety and toxic chemicals, among many others, would also be stymied. Industry-friendly, cost-benefit analysis would hamstring new environmental initiatives. For example, insecticide safety standards would be lowered if the undervalued “benefit” of new regulations protecting the bees is outweighed by the “cost” to corporate profits, thus threatening the pollinators necessary for our food system.
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Expert contact: Bill Waren, (202) 222-0746, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]