WASHINGTON, (Sputnik) — The TTIP agreement seeks to liberalize trade between the United States and Europe and create the world's largest trade zone, encompassing more than 60 percent of global production.
"Many Europeans, including policymakers, fear labor standards will be undermined, not raised by the [TTIP] trade agreement," Aaronson, who is also a professor at the George Washington University Elliot School of International Affairs, said on Wednesday.
TTIP, she added, will actually raise US labor and environmental standards because Europe’s are much higher.
Aaronson also said that critics have a point about the lack of visibility into the TTIP negotiations process.
"It’s disgusting that USTR [US Trade Representative] hasn’t figured out a way to be more transparent," she asserted.
Russia could also benefit from the TTIP, Aaronson observed, although it might be difficult in light of Moscow’s feud with the EU over economic sanctions.
"[TTIP] could be very good for Russia if it leads to economies of scale and lowering of prices," she argued.
On Saturday, about 100,000 people rallied in Berlin, Germany to protest the TTIP free trade pact.
Europe for a week in a fire!!.. People are outraged!!.. We have to stop #TTIP!!.. @jpr0732 pic.twitter.com/tNN9SHUJX9
— ★Смотрящий..★ (@MicroCharmelle) October 13, 2015
