Lord Mandelson to give evidence to Lords committee investigating ground breaking EU/US trade deal

The House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on External Affairs is holding an inquiry to look at the benefits, both to the EU and the UK, of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which was launched earlier this year. 

Lord Mandelson will be asked if he thinks the UK's debate on a referendum on EU membership could weaken its role in the talks, and vice versa – whether the trade talks might themselves have a bearing on the referendum.

He will also be asked questions such as:

• What do you think we can learn from past, failed attempts to build an EU/US Free Trade Agreement?
• Is it feasible to achieve anything in two years?
• How could an EU-US deal be structured to give a kick-start to global trade?

Prior to Lord Mandelson's appearance, Professor Jim Rollo, from the University of Sussex, and Professor Simon Evenett, from the University of St Gallen in Switzerland, will give evidence. They will be quizzed on the economic implications the deal might have for UK industry (such as finance and agriculture) and also what is in it for the UK public.

They will also be asked questions such as:

• How strong are protectionist tendencies in the EU and the US in the context of TTIP?
• What are the biggest political hurdles in the US to reach a successful TTIP conclusion and ratification?
• What difference might the other trade deals, for example between the EU and Canada, and the 12 nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, have on this one?

At 10.30 am the Committee will hear from Professor Jim Rollo, University of Sussex, and Professor Simon Evenett, University of St Gallen.

At 11.30 am the Committee will hear from Lord Mandelson.

The evidence session will take place on Thursday 31 October in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords.