WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Charles B. Rangel today issued the following statements in response to the announcement that the United States and the European Union (EU) will begin negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) agreement:
LEVIN: “The launch of trade negotiations with Europe today is an opportunity for our negotiators to succeed in removing tariff and regulatory barriers to U.S. exports, while strengthening protections for our consumers and the environment. These negotiations also provide an opportunity to develop new rules and a new framework for global trade, promoting an equitable and market-based economic model. That model can serve as a viable alternative to the disturbing trend emerging in some countries toward tighter state control over trade flows and larger support for state-owned and state-controlled enterprises which disadvantages U.S. businesses."
RANGEL: “The American people share many principles and values with the people of Europe. A transatlantic trade agreement can help bring us even closer together. Our ambitions should be high, and there are some regulatory areas where we can help workers and businesses by eliminating unnecessary differences. At the same time, we must be sure that any resulting changes maintain, rather than diminish, high levels of protection for our people."
