“T” for Toxic? Seven things everyone should know about the EU‐US trade negotiations (aka “TTIP” or “TAFTA”) and chemical regulation

The document outlines seven ways the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) could negatively impact chemical regulation, specifically warning that it may lead to 'harmonization “downward,”' slowing the implementation of protective EU laws, and eroding the regulatory authority of EU Member States. It highlights risks such as reduced transparency regarding hazardous chemicals, the potential for foreign investors to sue governments over public health laws via secretive arbitration panels, and the possible increase in fracking due to the undermining of precautionary moratoria. Finally, it asserts that TTIP could slow global progress on managing international chemical risks, particularly in relation to Asian trading partners.

• TTIP is characterized as a regulatory agreement aimed at minimizing differences between countries, which the author claims will likely lead to a 'harmonization “downward,”' resulting in standards that are less protective of the environment and human health.
• The agreement may stall environmental law-making in the EU by introducing 'speculative trade impact assessments' and consultations with US regulators, potentially mirroring the 'paralysis' seen in the US federal chemical management system.
• TTIP could hinder the transition to safer chemicals by restricting access to information through proposed labeling and secrecy rules, and by slowing the creation of hazardous chemical lists that currently drive businesses to find substitutes.
• The inclusion of NAFTA-like investment provisions in TTIP could allow foreign investors to use secretive arbitration panels, rather than EU courts, to seek compensation for lost profits resulting from public health and environmental laws.
• The document suggests TTIP could increase fracking by undermining precautionary moratoria enacted by EU Member States, citing a precedent where a US company challenged a Canadian province's moratorium under NAFTA.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). “T” for Toxic? Seven things everyone should know about the EU‐US trade negotiations (aka “TTIP” or “TAFTA”) and chemical regulation. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_FactSheet_EU_Feb2014.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. “T” for Toxic? Seven things everyone should know about the EU‐US trade negotiations (aka “TTIP” or “TAFTA”) and chemical regulation. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_FactSheet_EU_Feb2014.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=“T” for Toxic? Seven things everyone should know about the EU‐US trade negotiations (aka “TTIP” or “TAFTA”) and chemical regulation |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_FactSheet_EU_Feb2014.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndtoxic, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{“T” for Toxic? Seven things everyone should know about the EU‐US trade negotiations (aka “TTIP” or “TAFTA”) and chemical regulation}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TTIP_FactSheet_EU_Feb2014.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }