So... what’s the problem?
First off, standards between the US and EU need to be harmonised, which will involve some rather picky changes – one example Larry Elliott gave was deciding where fire extinguishers will be placed on newly manufactured speedboats – and some big ones, such as redefining labour standards, environmental protections and standards of goods and services in the EU and across the Atlantic.
“Establishing standards for things like labour and safety, [TTIP] could also give us the ability to push and increase standards around the world,” Pryce said. “If you think US standards are low, you should see some other places around the world.”
Friends of the Earth Europe set up an inflated Trojan horse in front of
EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium as they protest against the TTIP
agreement.
Photograph: Wiktor Dabkowski/Wiktor Dabkowski/dpa/Corbis
