In 2015, the Commission proposed a new trade and investment strategy for the European Union strenghtening the transatlantic partnership. CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) has been completed and TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) is currently under negotiation.
Technical barriers to trade can be eliminated in the short or medium term. However, systemic differences can only be harmonized in the long term. For decades, each trading partner has developed its own substantial and legal product standards. In order to agree on the same terms in product safety, the trading partners have to apply international standards (e.g. ISO) or recognize the respective partners’ standards. A mutual recognition of conformity assessment bodies are the key factor for the removal of non-tariff barriers to trade.
