by Sybille de la Hamaide, Reuters
Differences between the United States and the European Union over issues such as genetically modified crops and hormone-treated beef could scupper a free trade deal, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Tuesday.
The European Union and the United States hope to seal a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that would encompass a third of world trade and nearly half of global gross domestic product.
The two sides have made limited progress after 11 negotiating rounds, however, and food and farming issues tend to be among the thorniest in trade negotiations.
“This is not going to be an easy discussion. We know there are serious issues,” Vilsack told the EU Agricultural outlook conference hosted by the European Commission.
Vilsack singled out three issues that had to be addressed: European opposition to U.S. exports of beef and genetically modified organisms, and U.S. opposition to the EU's system of geographical indications, or designation of origin protection.
“If we don't address these difficult, tricky issues … decide not to deal with them because they are too hard, then in my view you are not going to have a TTIP agreement,” he told reporters.
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Source: Reuters
