House Lawmakers Launch Bipartisan TTIP Caucus

Reps. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., William Keating, D-Mass., Richard Neal, D-Mass., and Todd Young, R-Ind., formally launched the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) caucus in recent days, staff for the lawmakers confirmed. "I have always believed that strengthening the ties between the United States and the European Union makes good sense," said Neal in a press release. "A comprehensive trade and investment partnership with the 27 nations that make up the European Union will increase the export of U.S. goods and services abroad and create new jobs here at home. Bringing down existing trade barriers will allow U.S. manufactures to sell more of their products to the 500 million people who current live in the EU." Staff members for the representatives did not comment on the priorities the caucus intends to push in TTIP negotiations. The U.S. is continuing to press for comprehensive elimination of tariffs on textiles and apparel and agricultural products in TTIP (see 14031101).