Speaking at the AVEC General Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal on 30 September, Commissioner Hogan said that although the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) “continues to be a trade priority”, it is “unlikely” there will be an agreement under the outgoing US administration.

His words echo comments made last week by Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström, who said: “It is looking increasingly unlikely that we will finish this before the end of Obama’s presidency.”

Although both commissioners have now signalled their lack of confidence in being able to get TTIP over the line before the end of the Obama administration in January 2017, they have also signalled their intention to keep negotiations going under a new US president, despite calls from within Europe to shelve the deal or begin talks under a new name.

The Commission remains ready to conclude an ambitious, balanced and high-standard TTIP agreement

Hogan said that TTIP “continues to be a trade priority” and that given the common values of the EU and the US, “as well as the strategic, political and economic importance of the transatlantic relationship, the Commission remains ready to conclude an ambitious, balanced and high-standard TTIP agreement”.

Meanwhile, Malmström has said “it makes all the sense in the world” to have an agreement with the US.

Brexit

The prospect of Britain leaving the EU, however, has added confusion to the already aggrieved process of negotiations. Commissioner Malmström has insisted that for the moment the EU is negotiating in behalf of 28 member states. Hogan has spoken along similar lines, saying that until the moment the UK leaves the EU, it remains a full member.

He added that “to date, the British government has made no progress in clarifying its negotiating position on Brexit”.

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