The international trade spokesman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Daniel Caspary (EPP/DE) said following the adoption of the EU negotiating mandate for the TTIP trade agreement with the United States by the Council, and the impending launch of negotiations:
“The TTIP free trade agreement is an economic growth programme for free. Lowering tariffs and abolishing trade barriers doesn’t cost a single cent, and leaves companies, employees and consumers much better off. The EU and the United States must sit down at the negotiation table on 8 July. The sooner an agreement is reached, the better for both sides of the Atlantic. There is also a significant strategic argument for the agreement, which, besides its economic benefits, also strengthens the two largest western democracies in the face of global competition from rising trading nations.”