British Ambassador in Portugal highlights importance of TTIP
Read Ambassador Jill Gallard's speech at a recent conference in Lisbon about the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
British Ambassador Lisbon speaking at a TTIP conference in Lisbon
On 24 March, Ambassador Jill Gallard spoke at a conference on the TTIP organised by the European Commission representation in Lisbon. She enhanced this as one of the UK Government’s top trade policy priorities for 2014. An ambitious and wide-ranging TTIP could add annually as much as £100bn for the EU economy (roughly +0.5% of GDP).
HMA argued TTIP could give a major impetus to the wider free trade agenda. Building on the successes of 2013, notably the conclusion in Bali of the first multilateral trade deal in over 20 years, the UK welcomed the prospects for a Trans Pacific partnership and for the EU concluding (e.g. with Japan) or launching (e.g. with Mercosur) important Free Trade Agreements.
HMA noted that although both the British and Portuguese Governments were convinced of the importance of TTIP, we also needed to make sure all stakeholders got involved. The business community in particular had to speak up about how TTIP could deliver growth and jobs.
Read full text of speech attached.
