17
November
2014
|
14:14
Europe/London

Manchester academic comments on Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Lecturer in politics and critic of TTIP, Gabriel Siles-Brügge, warns that the benefits of a trade partnership between the EU and US are vastly exaggerated after the Prime Minister talks about accelerating deal

University of Manchester academic responds to David Cameron’s comments on a proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the EU and US
 
Responding to Prime Minister David Cameron’s comments on the proposed EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) at the closure of the G20 summit, lecturer in politics at The University of Manchester and critic of TTIP, Gabriel Siles-Brügge said:
 
“It’s crucial that we challenge the economic figures produced by such advocates of the TTIP as David Cameron. These are based on economic models that make a number of unrealistic assumptions about the degree to which TTIP will reduce barriers to trade. As such, they both vastly exaggerate the positive benefits of the agreement and disguise the potential downsides of the TTIP that are far less easy to measure. This could include, for example, the potential to dilute standards in areas such as the regulation of chemicals or food safety.”

Addressing public concern over the NHS and perceived risks of privatisation as a result of TTIP, he added:
“The assurances given by the UK government do not tell the full story. Making commitments in the area of health services as part of the TTIP may make it difficult for future governments to undo the marketisation of the NHS undertaken through the Health and Social Care Act, which would become enshrined in an international agreement.”
 
David Cameron yesterday told the press that there had been an agreement between G20 leaders  to accelerate drawn out negotiations on TTIP which he described as "good for Britain, good for jobs, good for growth, and good for the British economy". He dismissed threats to the NHS as “nonsense”.
 
Estimates predict that the TTIP deal will generate an extra €119 billion GDP annually for the EU, or €545 for each family of four, by 2027 – figures that Gabriel deems ‘optimistic and misleading’.

Notes for editors

Notes to editors:
Gabriel is available for interview and can be contacted at gabriel.siles-brugge@manchester.ac.uk or, by phone, on 0161 306 6945.
Gabriel is a lecturer in politics at The University of Manchester. He has consulted for the World Development Movement and advised other NGOs campaigning against TTIP.

Media enquiries to:
Deborah Linton
Media Relations Officer
Faculty of Humanities
The University of Manchester
Tel: 0161 275 8257, 07789 948 783
Email: deborah.linton@manchester.ac.uk