No Hurry to Close TTIP Negotiations, Says Hollande at White House
Congressional opposition to the U.S. Trade Promotion Authority legislation is not a significant concern for European trading partners, French President François Hollande implied in a Feb. 11 press conference with President Barack Obama. Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations remain underway. “I’m aware of the debate that is currently underway in Congress. But as long as principles have been set up, as long as mandates have been decided and the interests of everyone are known, speed is not of the essence,” said Hollande, speaking at the White House. “What we need is to find a solution. Of course a speedy agreement would be a good thing because otherwise there will be fears and threats. So if we act in good faith, if we respect each other, and if we want to promote growth, as we said a few moments ago, well, we can go faster.”
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Hollande later reiterated support for the trade pact in opening remarks at the State Dinner. "The French and the Americans, also want to work for growth and to introduce new rules that will prevent financial crises and enable us to fight more efficiently against tax evasion," said Hollande, according to a White House press release. "First, results are here, and the strength and robustness of the American economy is a source of hope for all developed countries. Provided that we open up our markets and intensify our trade, we will succeed."