Views vary on benefits or costs of transatlantic trade talks

The divergent agricultural and industrial views on the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks between the US and the EU seem to be widening.

Critics of the TTIP talks say too many decisions are being made behind closed doors, and are calling on Europeans to resist proposed new laws that would ‘nationalise’ food and land resources. Supporters of a US-EU deal highlight a possible 2m new jobs and an annual dividend for every EU family.

South of Ireland MEP Sean Kelly said: “The potential benefits of an EU-US trade deal are enormous. To the naysayers I say let the negotiations continue. Those issues of concern are up for debate, but don’t outright oppose what could be a very important trade deal for Europe without even knowing the details.