The Committee on International Trade (INTA) exchange views with William KENNARD, US Ambassador, on the EU-US Trade relations, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

exchange of views

EU - USA (T)

Committee on International Trade

CASPARY, Daniel (EPP, DE)

MARTIN, David (S&D, UK)

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T)

KAZAK, Metin (ALDE, BG)

EU-US trade relations: extracts from the exchange of views with William KENNARD, US Ambassador

SOUNDBITE (English), William E. KENNARD, US Ambassador to the EU, Trade it's sensitive political issue I think in the US, I suspect it is here as well,. Unfortunately as I've talked with many peoples in the US , to often trade, and free trade and globalisation its viewed with suspicions among working people, and I think is on combing on all and those of us whom believe in fee trade to make sure that we are making the case domestically.

SOUNDBITE (English), William E. KENNARD, US Ambassador to the EU, I think its important that reflect on where we stand on the broad arch of history. One of the important monumental events that we are shaming the challenges of our times that are automate shape how each of us has policy makers, leaders, ambassadors, will be judged. And I submit to you, and I do so humbly and with respect, that we will be judged on two important events that are bigger than all of us. The one is the Lisbon treaty. We will be judged on weather Lisbon is implemented in a way that is fulfilled the fundamental hopes of that Treaty. Will Lisbon make Europe stronger; will Lisbon make Europe more decisive, more democratic, a more effective global player? And second one is the financial crises. 

SOUNDBITE (English), William E. KENNARD, US Ambassador to the EU, This financial crisis is truly a defining issue on our times. Years from now all of us we will be telling to our children and our grand children how we survive the crises. I don't know how they are going to refer to it, if crises of 2008 I'm not sure, but we will all be asked to answer the question: "what did you do during the crises. How did you as a leader help your economy recover, what did you did to help the most vulnerable peoples in your societies Did you do everything you could, did you show true leadership, did you rise above the petty and the insignificant disputes that often divide US and the EU and manage to focus on the big issues. The big issue is how we did bring sustainable economic growth to our people

SOUNDBITE (German), Daniel CASPARY (EPP, DE), Do you think that the US government in the weeks and months can come to see with us to put together European and American regulations and legislative measures on trade and adopt our legislation to be similar on both part of the Atlantic.

SOUNDBITE (English), David MARTIN (S&amp;D, UK), If can not get that in to the basics when we are talking of the trade and trade barriers for ourselves how we are going to wave that in to a bigger US EU dialogue. i wanted but I'm just interested in the hole achievement

SOUNDBITE (English), Metin KAZAK (ALDE, BG), Related to the future of the WTO Doha negotiations.

SOUNDBITE (English), William E. KENNARD, US Ambassador to the EU, Obviously we could do better, but I think that what the crises on 2008 did show is that we there is a crises of enormous proportions, it's a great treat to our collective economic heath and the governments can and do come together.

SOUNDBITE (English), William E. KENNARD, US Ambassador to the EU, I agree, I think we often get stuck on our relationship on agriculture issue and tend to become a barrier to getting things done in other areas, and I think that in the mass of this crises, the one thing that could be really significant in moving the relationship forewarned its to have a final way to deal with something voicing agricultural issue