The importance of scope and enforceability in the sustainability chapter of TTIP

On November 12th, Luisa Santos, Director of International Relations, presented BusinessEurope’s views on labour issues in the sustainability chapter of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership at a roundtable with policy-makers and stakeholders organised by the European Economic and Social Committee. The main objective of trade agreements is to lay down provisions to boost and regulate trade and investment between two partners, not to regulate labour rights. Social provisions must not serve the objective of disguised protectionism. The scope and content of sustainability chapters of the EU free-trade agreements have seen positive developments since the deal concluded by the EU with Korea. With the USA, the relationship between scope and enforceability will be a central aspect of the labour chapter.