U.S., EU To Talk Trade Amid Spy Furor (starts tomorrow in DC)

[Catherina]

U.S., EU To Talk Trade Amid Spy Furor

By RFE/RL
July 08, 2013

The European Union and the United States are due to open negotiations on the creation of what would be the world’s biggest free-trade zone.

The talks, to open July 8 in Washington, come amid friction between the two allies over revelations by fugitive U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden of American spying on EU diplomatic offices and computer networks.

EU concerns about the U.S. spying are expected to be raised in Washington in parallel with the trade talks.

The negotiations aim to remove barriers to trade and investment between the two powers, with the goal of agreeing on a deal by late 2014.

Negotiators will be seeking to overcome obstacles including restrictions on certain protected industries, such as defense contracting in the United States and EU bans on genetically modified food products.

...

http://www.rferl.org/content/us-eu-snowden/25039232.html


the free-trade area would encompass some 800 million residents

[Laelth]

1. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth