Obama, EU leaders announce trade negotiation plans
February 15, 2013 | 05:10 PM
President Barack Obama, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso
President Barack Obama, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso issued a joint statement Wednesday on plans for negotiations on the U.S.-EU comprehensive trade agreement, while other officials held a news conference and trade groups began to respond.
“A high-standard Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership would advance trade and investment liberalization and address regulatory and other non-tariff barriers.” Obama, Van Rompuy and Barroso said in the statement.
“Through this negotiation, the United States and the European Union will have the opportunity not only to expand trade and investment across the Atlantic, but also to contribute to the development of global rules that can strengthen the multilateral trading system.”
Separately, Barroso said that the European Commission “will move quickly to present a negotiating mandate to our member states so we can start negotiations as soon as possible, still during the Irish presidency of the Council.”
