“We'll decline to comment directly to the vice chancellor's comments,” the White House official stated.
On Sunday, German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel told ZDF broadcaster that the EU and United States could not reach an agreement on TTIP because European countries were concerned about its possible adverse effects.
“In my opinion the negotiations with the United States have de facto failed, even though nobody is really admitting it,” Gabriel stated in the interview. “[They] have failed because we Europeans did not want to subject ourselves to American demands.”
Recent leaks of the proposed agreement’s content revealed that the new regulations would violate environmental legislation, banking procedures, and investment rights.
Such countries as Canada, Mexico, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland are also due to participate in TTIP.
