The George Washington University’s Institute for International Economic Policy will host the Office of the United States Trade Representative on Wednesday for a series of dialogues to accompany the third round of negotiations between the United States and the European Union for what could become the world’s largest free trade partnership.
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) is an ambitious trade agreement intended to boost economic growth in the U.S. and the EU by removing a number of trade barriers. The relationship between the U.S. and EU accounts for 30 percent of the world’s trade.
Following a first round of talks in Washington, D.C. during the summer and a second in November held in Brussels, negotiators will meet throughout the week of Dec. 16, again in Washington. The discussions will be conducted between U.S. and EU negotiating teams, but stakeholders — from business, trade associations, NGOs, labor unions and environmental groups—will have the opportunity to deliver presentations to negotiators during an open event on Wednesday at GW, and students are invited to attend.
The open presentations will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Marvin Center. Susan Aaronson, an expert in international trade and professor in the Elliott School of International Affairs, will give a presentation to negotiators during this session.
During a closed briefing from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., U.S. chief negotiator Dan Mullaney and EU chief negotiator Ignacio Garcia will answer questions from stakeholders.
Limited seats are available for GW students and faculty who wish to attend one or both events, but they must register here by 5 p.m. Monday. They then can check in on Wednesday on the first floor of the Marvin Center.