European automotive supplier body, CLEPA, is backing calls by business groups for a reduction in existing non-trade barriers (NTB) in the context of the crucial Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
CLEPA’s move comes hot on the heels of its joint letter to US trade representative, Michael Froman and European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, in tandem with the American Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), urging progress surrounding TTIP be accelerated.
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Both supplier bodies point to what they claim would be massive increases in parts and vehicles exports on both sides, as well as significant efficiencies for the 734,000 and 5m-strong respective workforces.
Sources in Brussels told just-auto the European Commission (EC) convened a meeting last week in the Belgian capital of business and advocacy groups, including CLEPA, with the supplier association stressing the need for dismantling of NTBs through regulatory convergence, as well as the establishment of a regulatory cooperation body as an ‘early warning mechanism’ to consult on planned legislation.
Other key areas of concern include reciprocal tariff elimination, customs procedures simplification, cooperation on public procurement, dual use items and export controls, as well as addressing ‘gaps’ between intellectual property protection.
“European business and advocacy groups have expressed strong support for a comprehensive TTIP agreement that should not only aim at full tariff liberalisation but also strive for a substantial reduction of existing non-trade barriers between the approximation and an early warning mechanism to consult on planned legislation,” said a CLEPA statement.
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By GlobalData“The European and American Automotive Suppliers industry respectively represented by CLEPA and MEMA are actively supporting the renewed effort on the TTIP negotiations this year, as stated in a letter sent to Commissioner Malmström and US Trade Representative Michael Froman last week.”
One fly in the ointment however, could be the potential opposition of the newly-elected Greek government, whose majority Coalition of the Radical Left or Syriza, may well object to TTIP.
Some have speculated TTIP, now in its eighth round of negotiations, could provide large businesses with further ammunition and the trade negotiations have attracted opposition from certain trade union organisations.
Neither the Greek government nor Syriza were immediately available for comment from Athens.
