Resolution Supporting the Successful Negotiation of a Comprehensive and Commercially Meaningful Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

Model Policy Summary

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) Agreement has the potential to be the largest trade framework ever negotiated underscoring the importance of ensuring that it is a high standard, comprehensive agreement with strong intellectual property provisions.  In keeping with the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC’s) support of the Jeffersonian principle of free markets and ALEC’s past support of a wide variety of trade frameworks, this resolution supports the negotiation and final ratification of such an agreement.

Whereas, the transatlantic economy is the largest and most integrated in the world, accounting for 50 percent of global GDP and $5.3 trillion in total commercial sales; and

Whereas, the transatlantic economy’s share of global GDP has been declining over the last three decades with developing economies such as China and India continuing to grow and expand their presence in international trade; and

Whereas, the TTIP specifically, and global trade generally, is critical to growing the nation’s economy, enhancing the ability for small businesses to participate in the international marketplace, and enabling greater job creation; and

Whereas, the benefits of the TTIP also include setting modern growth-friendly standards for international trade; and

Whereas, the U.S.-EU High Level Working Group (HLWG) on Growth and Jobs called for an agreement that will cover: tariffs; services; investment reforms and protection; government procurement; WTO-plus rules on sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues (SPS); intellectual property rights; trade facilitation; competition policy; labor and environment; and

Whereas, the U.S. Senate has confirmed the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to address this ambitious global trade agenda, and

Therefore, be it resolved that ALEC voices its support of the successful negotiation of the TTIP which moves beyond tariff barriers to encompass a broad range of non-tariff, regulatory and supply chain barriers to trade, and further

Be it resolved that the resulting agreement be comprehensive and that no products or agricultural commodities be removed, and further

Be it resolved thatthe resulting agreement have high standard intellectual property protections and enforcement to promote global economic development and job creation, and further

Be it resolved that privacy rules should not prove an unnecessary barrier to cross-border flows of information, and further

Be it resolved that ALEC urges the Executive Branch and the United States Congress to refocus their efforts initiatives targeted at ensuring the successful conclusion of a comprehensive and commercially meaningful TTIP, and further

Be it resolved that ALEC shall convey its support to all members of the United States Congress and the Executive Branch.

Approved by the ALEC Board of Directors on September 29, 2013.

Re-approved by the ALEC Board of Directors on December 26, 2018.