Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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185. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made at the Foreign Affairs Council, Trade, in Luxemburg in June 2013; the progress made on the trade and investment agreement between the European Union and the United States of America, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership; the negotiations on the EU-Canada Free Trade Agreement; the EU's trade relations with China; the other matters that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29404/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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EU - US trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (TTIP)

The Irish Presidency of the EU Council positioned trade policy development as one of its key priority objectives. The primary goal of the Irish Presidency in the trade area was to advance the recommendations of the High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth and work towards agreement for a new generation Trade and Investment Agreement between the EU and the US. Following considerable preparatory work by the Irish Presidency and intensive discussions at the EU's Trade Council, that I chaired on 14 June, EU Trade Ministers agreed negotiating directives that will enable the Commission to formally open detailed talks on this agreement.

The negotiating mandate is broad based and positions the Commission to enter the talks with strong support from the Council to negotiate the best possible deal for Europe. The mandate includes three key components: market access; regulatory issues and non-tariff barriers; and the rules which will govern the operation of any dispute settlement. The scale of opportunity for economic growth and job creation from this agreement are potentially enormous. The TTIP will be the largest bilateral agreement ever negotiated and offers significant opportunity to help our exporters and especially SMEs access the huge US market for goods and services. It is estimated that EU GDP rise by between 0.5 % and 1 % in GDP when the agreement is fully implemented. Other studies suggest 2 million jobs could be created across the developed economies of the OECD if we successfully conclude an agreement that is comprehensive and deeply liberalises the transatlantic marketplace. The first round of negotiations are set to commence in Washington on 8 July.

Canada

Ministers were briefed by the Commission on developments in the negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada. Ministers confirmed full support for the Commission's approach in providing the impetus needed for finalising the talks and looked forward to a conclusion as soon as possible.

China

Ministers also discussed the EU's strategic trade relations with China, in particular the proposed launch of negotiations on an investment agreement. The EU is China's largest trading partner and both economies have much to gain from developing closer economic and trading connections.

Other matters discussed

The Council welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations with the European Parliament on the so called "Omnibus I & II" Regulations which govern the procedures used for decision-making under the EU's common commercial policy. The two draft regulations are aimed at modifying a number of regulations adopted between 1972 and 2009, adapting them to decision-making procedures provided for by the Treaty of Lisbon, which entered into force in December 2009. The Presidency reached an agreement on both Regulations with the Parliament on 5 June.

The Council also discussed labour conditions in Bangladesh following recent tragic accidents and dreadful loss of life involving workers in garment factories. The Council considered the potential for companies to use their codes of corporate social responsibility to help improve supply chain and working conditions as well as the opportunities for the EU to provide further technical assistance to the Bangladeshi authorities.