Step up to the plate

The author critiques the European Union's lack of preparation for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, warning that the United States is likely to use GMO products as a 'make-it-or-break-it' condition. The text argues that the EU must protect its environmental, climate, and consumer standards, and suggests that the positive agenda for TTIP should focus on energy and resource efficiency to support a low-carbon economy. It further cautions against using TTIP as a strategic tool to contain China, suggesting instead a multilateral approach to global trade to avoid dividing the world into competing blocs.

• The European Union is viewed as underprepared for TTIP negotiations, with German and French governments and industry lobbies failing to harmonise strategies or communicate bilaterally before the process began.
• The United States is expected to take a tough negotiating stance, specifically regarding the requirement that Europeans accept US GMO products as a condition for a deal.
• The author defines three essential 'red lines' for the EU: protecting environmental and climate policy, maintaining consumer protection and data privacy standards, and safeguarding social and labor safety standards.
• A positive agenda for TTIP should focus on establishing common standards for energy and resource efficiency to facilitate a transition to a low-carbon economy.
• The author criticizes the perspective that TTIP is a strategic design to contain China, arguing that such an approach risks creating competing trading blocs and harming global stability.
• The author argues against the rapid timeline proposed by US and EU politicians, stating that complex issues like e-mobility and transport efficiency standards require more time than a fast-tracked deal would allow.

APA

Bütikofer, R. (2013). Step up to the plate. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/step-up-to-the-plate/

Chicago

Bütikofer, Reinhard. Step up to the plate. Green European Journal, 2013. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/step-up-to-the-plate/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Bütikofer |first1=Reinhard |title=Step up to the plate |publisher=Green European Journal |date=19 April 2013 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/step-up-to-the-plate/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{btikofer2013step, author = {Bütikofer, Reinhard}, title = {{Step up to the plate}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2013}, month = apr, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/step-up-to-the-plate/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }