The Impacts of TTIP on Developing Countries: Obstacles or Opportunities

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung EU Office
Rue du Taciturne 38
1000 Brüssel

In the current debate, the potential impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on developing countries remains largely unexamined. However, the effects of negative trade diversion in specific product categories might prove harmful for low income countries. Experts from the Global South are also concerned about new non-tariff trade barriers for exports to Europe and the US. Furthermore, TTIP threatens to erode least developed countries’ preferential margins granted to them by arrangements like the Generalised System of Preferences or the Everything But Arms initiative. Could TTIP create the opportunity to harmonize these arrangements and to establish one common and generous system of trade preferences for low income countries? Or will TTIP leave developing countries even more marginalized? How does the Global South assess the TTIP negotiations and what are TTIP’s implications for developing countries’ prospects to improve their market access and their inclusion in global production networks?

This roundtable is addressed at representatives of EU institutions, diplomatic missions, Brussels based think tanks and NGOs to discuss the above mentioned questions.

For more information contact: Sidonie.Wetzig(at)fes-europe.eu or visit this site.

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