The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is being negotiated largely in secret by EU and US officials. People are rightly concerned that it could open up public services to further privatisation. Others are concerned about potential watering down of consumer rights, food safety standards, rights at work or environmental protections and about the facility for corporations to sue national governments if regulations impinged on their profits. So, as the deal stands, I give this ple

EU trade ministers met today to review a number of ongoing bilateral free trade negotiations, including the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP) with the United States. Luxembourg minister Asselborn: "An ambitious and balanced agreement during the Obama administration remains our goal. However, we don't want a deal at any price but a global and good agreement that won't give away European standards." Ministers also discussed the upcoming World Trade Organization ministerial conf