Udleveret dokument: Her står striden mellem USA og EU
Extradited document: Here is the dispute between the U.S. and the EU
U.S. pushing to protect investors, while the EU will soften up the U.S. regulation of the financial world. It shows a document NOTE've got access;
By Staffan Dahllöf, 17/12-2013
U.S. and EU this week launched the third round of negotiations on a free trade agreement across the Atlantic. And it is the very sensitive issues that are at stake.
The minutes, which MEMO has had access, shows that in the second round of negotiations in early November, among other things talked about how to overcome "technical barriers" as various environmental laws and safety regulations.
At the meeting, which took place in Brussels on 15 November, the EU countries' trade representatives also told that the United States had presented as well as general suggestions on how different laws should be handled, and partly specific proposals for solutions in medical technology, chemicals, information technology and automobiles.
"Constructive" dialogue on investor protection
Another controversial issue in the negotiations - the proposal to establish courts in which private corporations can sue governments (Investor-State Dispute Settlement) - has been the object of "constructive discussions", according to minutes from the Swedish Foreign Ministry. The EU has been trying to get "greater clarity" on what the U.S. wants in terms of investor protection.
The report gives the impression that the United States is the offensive dealer, while the EU side asking how the U.S. should be understood.
In return, the EU is pushing to get soaked up the regulation of the financial sector in the U.S.. At the meeting it was noted with satisfaction that the United States would meet up with a high-ranking representative of the Ministry of Finance in the continuing negotiations.
U.S. says no
In two other fields describing the note how the interests collide over the Atlantic.
Within services, the U.S. wants agreement on a "negative list", a list of service areas that are not to be included in a trade and investment agreement. EU tries as corresponding to formulations in the text of the agreement on increased U.S. openness to European companies in terms of awards at the state level.
The model with more open invitations inspired by negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EU and Canada. It succeeded well enough not EU to get an exception to the "Invest in Canada Act" - a law against unwanted foreign investment.
In return, the EU said to have been negotiated elevated thresholds in the Canadian law through, paving the way for more European investments - if you believe the Commission. Agreement with Canada negotiated, but not publicly available.
In a similar way, the EU seeks to have made some sort of easing in the U.S. "Buy American Act" which shut European companies out from participating in the tendering authorities in the United States.
Film and television anyway?
Another area of conflict, according to the minutes audiovisual (film, television, music, etc.) which the EU has refused to negotiate after the express demand of France.
It has not prevented the United States from coming up with a proposal for AV services - which in any case France will perceive as a helping hand to Hollywood and the music industry.
The report of the meeting noted, however, quite categorically that this wish will be rejected by the EU.
Finally, there are several questions which one or more EU countries believe are particularly important to get covered by an agreement with the United States, or vice versa to keep quite outside.
Energy is an example where there are widely dispersed interests and partly conflicting positions among EU member states.
The report of the meeting, it masked the EU countries that are behind each proposal.
EU calls for an easing of the U.S. "Buy American Act", which is currently shut European companies out from participating in the tendering authorities in the United States.
