Barriers in the Atlantic economic area: from TAFTA to the free market ; new transatlantic trade initiatives

Abstract

"During its current term as EU Council president, Germany has been trying hard to promote transatlantic economic integration. But Washington - and some EU countries - have reacted hesitantly. For them, the primary goal is closing the Doha Round. A transatlantic free trade zone remains a long-term project. Seldom in the recent history of transatlantic trade negotiations has there been as much conceptual confusion as during the 2007 German EU Council presidency. While at first there was talk of a transatlantic free trade agreement, called TAFTA, in the course of early 2007 the goal became a barrier-free market between the two trade partners. What, concretely, does this mean for transatlantic trade, and what are the alternatives available to policymakers?" (excerpt)