The EU-US Free Trade Agreement: Bad Prospects for the Global South

The author contends that the TTIP will harm the Global South through the diversion of trade flows and the imposition of EU-US standards on other nations. Mexico is highlighted as particularly vulnerable, specifically in its garment industry. The text suggests the agreement is a strategic attempt by the US and EU to bolster their diminishing economic influence and sideline the BRICS nations, potentially undermining the multilateral trading system in favor of a non-transparent, power-driven trade regime.

• The TTIP is expected to negatively affect the Global South primarily through the diversion of trade flows and the bilateral establishment of global standards.
• Mexico is identified as the economy that will suffer most from the TTIP due to its close trade ties with both the EU and US; specifically, the Mexican garment industry may face increased competition from Europe if tariffs are lowered for EU products.
• A trade deal could increase US citrus fruit exports to the EU, which would force current exporters such as South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco to seek new markets.
• The EU and US are using the TTIP to strengthen their declining economic positions by creating a trade regime that forces its regulations and standards on other countries, serving as a template for future agreements.
• The combination of a TPP-TTIP trade zone could marginalize BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), forcing them to either accept existing trade conditions or form opposing blocs.

APA

Keller, F. D. S. (2013). The EU-US Free Trade Agreement: Bad Prospects for the Global South. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-eu-us-free-trade-agreement-bad-prospects-for-the-global-south/

Chicago

Keller, Franza Drechsel, Ska. The EU-US Free Trade Agreement: Bad Prospects for the Global South. Green European Journal, 2013. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-eu-us-free-trade-agreement-bad-prospects-for-the-global-south/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Keller |first1=Franza Drechsel, Ska |title=The EU-US Free Trade Agreement: Bad Prospects for the Global South |publisher=Green European Journal |date=24 July 2013 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-eu-us-free-trade-agreement-bad-prospects-for-the-global-south/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{keller2013euus, author = {Keller, Franza Drechsel, Ska}, title = {{The EU-US Free Trade Agreement: Bad Prospects for the Global South}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2013}, month = jul, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-eu-us-free-trade-agreement-bad-prospects-for-the-global-south/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }