NEW YORK (Sputnik) — Negotiators in the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks were thankful for various presentations by critics on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and biotechnology, Assistant US Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East Daniel Mullaney told Sputnik.
“I and our leads on the agricultural issues who also attended those stakeholder sessions, were very appreciative of hearing both views,” Mullaney said on Friday during a press conference marking the end of the ninth round of TTIP negotiations in New York City.
The comment came in response to reports that US representatives were inattentive and at times laughing during presentations made by anti-GMO advocates at Thursday’s forum.
Stakeholders were allowed on Thursday to directly address negotiators of the TTIP, which is a developing trade agreement between the European Union and the United States.
Presenters charged that US representatives particularly disliked the presented information on weak US laws pertaining to GMO labelling, and the calls on European Union leaders to stand firm and not weaken their protections against GMOs.
The TTIP negotiations are expected to resume in Brussels in the Summer of 2015.
