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Protests in Germany against transatlantic TTIP and Ceta trade deals | |
(30 days later) | |
Tens of thousands of people have protested in cities across Germany against a proposed transatlantic trade deal between the EU and the US. | Tens of thousands of people have protested in cities across Germany against a proposed transatlantic trade deal between the EU and the US. |
Protesters say the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will lower European standards on food and environmental protection, and could lead to outsourcing and job-losses. | Protesters say the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will lower European standards on food and environmental protection, and could lead to outsourcing and job-losses. |
Supporters of the deal say it promises to lower tariffs and promote growth. | Supporters of the deal say it promises to lower tariffs and promote growth. |
The demonstrators were also protesting against a similar deal with Canada. | The demonstrators were also protesting against a similar deal with Canada. |
There were large crowds carrying flags and banners in seven German cities, including Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt, all braving cool and wet weather. | There were large crowds carrying flags and banners in seven German cities, including Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt, all braving cool and wet weather. |
TTIP: The EU-US trade deal explained | TTIP: The EU-US trade deal explained |
TTIP: Are US-Europe trade talks tanking? | TTIP: Are US-Europe trade talks tanking? |
Would Canada's CETA deal with the EU be a good model for the UK? | Would Canada's CETA deal with the EU be a good model for the UK? |
"I want us to get rid of TTIP and for European social and environmental standards to be respected, maintained and improved," said Peter Clausing in Berlin. | "I want us to get rid of TTIP and for European social and environmental standards to be respected, maintained and improved," said Peter Clausing in Berlin. |
Many demonstrators said the deal would lead to exploitation of people by businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. | Many demonstrators said the deal would lead to exploitation of people by businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. |
"It will be the enterprises and banks that will have power over people worldwide", said Tobias Kuhn. "That is a no-go. People need to know that and we will protest until there's no chance of that happening anymore." | "It will be the enterprises and banks that will have power over people worldwide", said Tobias Kuhn. "That is a no-go. People need to know that and we will protest until there's no chance of that happening anymore." |
The EU and the US began negotiating the trade deal in 2013, aiming to create the world's biggest free trade market with 850 million consumers. | The EU and the US began negotiating the trade deal in 2013, aiming to create the world's biggest free trade market with 850 million consumers. |
A new round of talks is due to start in October, and President Obama says he wants the deal to be concluded before he leaves office in January. | A new round of talks is due to start in October, and President Obama says he wants the deal to be concluded before he leaves office in January. |
A similar but smaller trade deal between the EU and Canada, called the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (Ceta), is due to be signed in October. | |
The objective of the proposed TTIP deal is to remove or reduce barriers to commerce between the US and the EU. Negotiators are working towards eliminating most tariffs. | The objective of the proposed TTIP deal is to remove or reduce barriers to commerce between the US and the EU. Negotiators are working towards eliminating most tariffs. |
But the plans face opposition in Europe from citizens as well as some governments. | But the plans face opposition in Europe from citizens as well as some governments. |
The French government has strongly opposed it, with President Francois Hollande casting doubt on when the deal would be reached. | The French government has strongly opposed it, with President Francois Hollande casting doubt on when the deal would be reached. |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel backs TTIP, but Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel last month said the talks on TTIP had "de facto failed". | German Chancellor Angela Merkel backs TTIP, but Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel last month said the talks on TTIP had "de facto failed". |
Mr Gabriel, who is the chairman of the CDU's junior coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) does support the Ceta deal with Canada, which he sees as a counterweight to China's increasing economic power. |