During the plenary session in Strasbourg (11-14 March 2019), MEPs debate recommendations for opening of negotiations between the EU and the US. Statements by Cecilia MALMSTRÖM, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL (EPP, DE), Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, CZ), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL) and Yannick JADOT (Greens/EFA, FR).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - USA (T)

LANGE, Bernd (S&D, DE)

JADOT, Yannick (Greens/EFA, FR)

SCHAAKE, Marietje (ALDE, NL)

EU trade policy (T)

ZAHRADIL, Jan (ECR, CZ)

QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL, Godelieve (EPP, DE)

Recommendations for opening of negotiations between the EU and the US: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&#214;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, I conveyed to him that there is momentum in the Council, to conclude in the weeks ahead the discussions on the authorisations of both negotiations. One on elimination of tariffs on industrial products and the other one of conformity assessment. And I expressed our commitment to fully respect the implementation of the joint statement as he stands and reiterated that future negotiations will not touch upon agriculture. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, Given the size of the EU-US Trade relationship, elimination of tariffs, even if they are today, already moderately low, lead to important cost reductions for economic operators. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, A limited, yet very meaningful agreement on industrial goods and tariffs would give transatlantic companies of all sizes a comparative advantage and support their global capacity to compete. We estimate an increase in bilateral EU-US export of 8% and 9% respectively and that is around 26 billion euros, so quite a lot of money. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Cecilia MALMSTR&Ouml;M, Member of the EC in charge of Trade, I am fully aware that some of you here fear that we would be negotiating under threat. And in this message, I would like to assure you that I have conveyed a very clear message to our counterparts as late as last week but also before that unilateral trade actions from the US on EU imports would risk damaging our efforts to strengthen Cross Atlantic relations at a critical time. 

SOUNDBITE (German), Godelieve QUISTHOUDT-ROWOHL (EPP, DE), I recommend to this house that in the vote tomorrow they all act responsibly and support the mandate. It&rsquo;s in the interest of us all to try and find common ground with the US and use this to de-escalate trade tensions.

SOUNDBITE (German), Bernd LANGE (S&amp;D, DE), In July last year, colleagues, we decided that there would be no agreement entered into without a reference to and an implementation of the Paris Climate Accord. Today, just a few hours ago we were discussing climate protection and all of this is not reflected in the negotiating mandate, not even an impact assessment of the consequences of this agreement. So, we need to formulate this concern.

SOUNDBITE (English), Jan ZAHRADIL (ECR, CZ), Our group supports the commission&rsquo;s proposed mandates, the two draft mandates on tariffs on industrial products and the one on conformity assessments and they will not only help to de-escalated thriving tensions but more importantly will bring substantial benefits to EU businesses and consumers.

SOUNDBITE (English), Marietje SCHAAKE (ALDE, NL), The escalations in our trade relations with the US have serious consequences. It is therefore crucial to keep talking and to try to come to agreements. Somebody has to be the adult in the room.

SOUNDBITE (French), Yannick JADOT (Greens/EFA, FR), You can&rsquo;t negotiate with a president who puts a gun to our head. Who taxes us in the morning, threatens us in the evening, threatens taxes on cars, tomorrow on who know what. We need to show courage if we want to show that the EU is an economic power and a political power if we want to show them that the European Union defends its values on climate and on all social and environmental issues.