Controversial TTIP trade deal is 'politically dead'

GERMANY'S Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel says the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) free trade deal being negotiated between the United States and the European Commission has failed “but nobody is really admitting it”.

The controversial trade deal, which included plans for a disputes mechanism which allows private companies to sue national governments and force them to change their laws in favour of big business, has caused uproar across Europe.

Many critics pointed to possible large-scale job losses, a lowering of standards for food and agricultural produce, an erosion of workers' rights and increased power for large multi-national corporations.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio on Monday, Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy MEP (pictured), who has been a leading voice in opposition to TTIP, said it is time to accept that TTIP is “politically dead, at least for the time being”:

“It's time now for reflection. Lets look where these trade agendas have been leading us. Look at the unprecedented opposition to them and lets re-examine what trade is supposed to be about. 

“If trade doesn't benefit the lives of the people from the states which are negotiating it, well then what's the point of it? We have to ensure trade deals are for the benefits of community as well as business and industry,” he said.

The Midlands North-West MEP says the Irish Government needs to stop supporting trade deals just because they are called “free trade deals”:

“We need to ensure that any deal that is negotiated is in the best interests of the people of Ireland, and for Europe as a whole.”