EU-US trade talks hit snag

The European Union has signalled the difficulties of including an investment-protection clause in any free-trade agreement with the US by saying the step faces huge scepticism in Europe.

The European Commission made the assertion after completing a public consultation on the merits of negotiating investment-protection provisions in the planned Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

The clause would allow foreign investors to use arbitration panels instead of using domestic courts to make claims against a national government when an investment is harmed, for example through expropriation.