Trade

A Transatlantic Common Market.  A project for prosperity!

It has been discussed many times before, but the strong opinion on both sides of the Atlantic and the worldwide economic situation at this moment could very well speed up the creation of a transatlantic free trade common market. TTIP is discussed passionately in Europe and America, but we believe in a trade deal that benefits us all. Despite the fact that negotiations have stopped we still believe in the future of a EU-US trade agreement.

Combined with USMCA (US, Canada, Mexico) and CETA (EU and Canada) a new revised TTIP forms a complete North-Atlantic Free Trade Zone with enormous potential. It is the strong opinion of the AMDOC Europe Foundation that this market of more than a billion affluent consumers would benefit both sides of the Atlantic.

Just imagine what it would mean to all the export oriented companies in Europe and in North America if all trade would be free, and if all tariffs and duties would seize to exist. And given the fact that the European and American economies are almost equal, the difficult side effects of jobs moving to low wages countries will not take place!

Protectionism is not the answer when dealing with a worldwide economic crisis. International trade is the answer. And removing unnecessary barriers is the key to success.

We hope you support the AMDOC Europe Foundation in pursuing this goal.

AMDOC promotes free trade across the Atlantic

Second step: Expand this market to people as well.

The free movement of people, not only within the European Union, but in the whole North Atlantic area could be a logical next step for the free trade zone. No more visa limitations between the European Union and North-America. Almost a billion people can go where they want, live where they want and work or establish businesses where they wish to do so. This also could boost the transatlantic economy in an enormous way.

Let’s try a much easier and simple Trade Agreement

The “Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership” treaty, better known as TTIP, should have been the most extensive trade and investment treaty ever between the European Union and the United States of America. Negotiations were underway between July 2013 and January 2017. The treaty was subject to strong criticism from both the Trump administration and from the European side. The negotiations have now been standing still for three years.

There was a lot of criticism of TTIP from the start. Small entrepreneurs in the EU believed that only large multinationals would benefit. Consumer organizations were afraid of too many concessions in the area of product ​​safety and the environment. We see the same happening regarding the CETA agreement with Canada. Rejection of this trade deal, which has been operating in practice for a number of years, is possible in several European countries.

The main reason for rejection now of the agreement the arbitration tribunal, in TTIP this part was also a very controversial item.

There was also a lot of criticism that in TTIP, a treaty of more than a thousand pages, every effort seemed to be made to completely curb every subject from a legal perspective. The proposal for the Investor-to-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) was, as stated above, another heavily criticized part of the agreement. An international arbitration tribunal, ignoring national law and courts, was simply not acceptable to many in politics and society.

Given the enormous economic potential of trade between North America and Europe, this is a missed opportunity that has major economic disadvantages on both sides. To maintain prosperity, it is important to pick up the negotiations again soon.

It is time for a much simpler trade agreement

Why should trade agreements be extensive and completely locked down on all details? This is not how the real-world works. It can all be a lot easier.

The Amdoc Europe Foundation is therefore in favor of the following model for a trade agreement between the European Union and the United States.

1. All import duties are reciprocally canceled.
2. National legislation and regulations regarding environmental requirements, consumer safety etc. continue to apply in full.
3. Requirements for products and investments in a country must not be different for foreign entrepreneurs than for domestic entrepreneurs.
4. In the event of disagreement, it is up to the national courts.

In concrete terms, this means free trade without financial obstacles in the form of import duties.

Nobody needs to be afraid that imported products do not meet the environmental and safety requirements that apply in their own country, as they continue to apply.

There must be a level playing field. Requirements for imported products or foreign investments should not discriminate against requirements for domestic products and investments.

And if there is nevertheless a difference of opinion, the national court in the importing country gives an opinion.

The NAFTA agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico has since been replaced by a new simpler agreement with the name USMCA.

It is obvious that, according to the aforementioned principles, a new Transatlantic treaty should not only be concluded with the US but with all three USMCA partners at the same time.

We really can’t make it any simpler or easier.

Negotiators, politicians and all other stakeholders are challenged to get started.