INTERNATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED TRANSPORT
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OCTOBER 2013
SC&RA COMMENT
63
With two-way trade in goods and services approaching
€800 billion (US$ 1 trillion) in 2012, the USA and EU
enjoy the world’s leading commercial partnership. This
month, European and American trade officials meet in Brussels to
negotiate the highly anticipated Transatlantic Trade and Investment
Partnership. And whereas the stage has been set for a historic trade
agreement, it won’t arrive without its fair share of hurdles.
A key obstacle will include the removal of non-tariff barriers,
which would provide an immediate surge to transatlantic trade by
allowing more competition between existing exports and paving
the way for new commodities. At an average of less than three per
cent, transatlantic tariffs are low, so eliminating non-tariff barriers,
which often counteract these manageable duties, is a key point
of negotiation.
Simply dismantling non-tariff barriers, however, is a lofty
ambition. Ranging from differing customs and regulatory
requirements, inspection procedures and licensing agreements
to export subsidies and quotas, these obstacles are much more
complex and, as a result, more challenging to untangle than
standard tariffs.
Another point of focus for both sides will concern technical and
legal business standards that could establish the next generation
of global data transmission and privacy regulations. If the EU and
USA can find common ground and set these standards, the rest of
the world will have to adhere if they plan on being a part of this
enormous progression of international goods and services thriving
within mutual procedures.
Keeping time
Primarily, time is of the essence for negotiators on both sides of
the Atlantic. Stalled amid record unemployment levels, Europe
sees a transatlantic free trade zone as the potential answer to its
economic prayers. And the framework for a deal must be in place
before mid-term elections in the USA in 2014, and the arrival of a
COMMENT
Joel M Dandrea
new executive to the European Commission in 2015. As expected,
lobbyists from corporate, consumer and labour sectors on both
sides will swoop in and attempt to influence as much of the
negotiations as possible. The American Farm Bureau Federation
is already positioning to eradicate non-tariff barriers in Europe
to its exports – mainly, genetically modified crops. Other familiar
names on the American side pushing for reform are FedEx and
Wal-Mart, while the AFL-CIO (America’s largest federation of
unions) has articulated concerns that an abundance of corporate
tampering in Brussels will merely wreak havoc on wages, labour
rights and environmental and consumer protection on both sides
of the Atlantic.
Negotiators will feel the pressure early and often – while
encountering thousands of issues that branch off in myriad
national and sector-specific directions. In addition, political
pressure will remain a central point of constraint on both sides
of the table. Balancing the interests of its 28 member states, as
well as the European Parliament, which ultimately approves any
deal, will book-end much of the decision-making process for EU
representatives. American negotiators certainly won’t get a free
political pass – burdened with the challenge of orchestrating deals
that will find traction in the notably divided US Congress.
Ultimately, the successful arrangement of a Transatlantic Trade
and Investment Partnership, given the time restrictions, will
require officials to do their best in steering clear of controversial
issues and non-starters. Matters of emphasis – achievable
aims – will include synchronising European and American
regulations in the medical appliances, pharmaceuticals, chemicals
and the automotive sectors.
Although there is no guarantee that a collective agreement
will come about in Brussels – to coincide with the unofficial
deadline at the end of 2014 – many in attendance will recognise
the idea that there’s no better time than the present to free up
transatlantic trade.
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Transatlantic trade
WHO’S WHO
SPECIALIZED CARRIERS
& RIGGING ASSOCIATION
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Joel Dandrea
5870 Trinity Parkway, Suite 200
Centreville, Virginia, 20120, USA
Tel: +1 (703) 698 0291
Fax: +1 (703) 698 0297
CHAIRMAN
Michael Battaini
Sheedy Drayage
San Francisco, CA, USA
PRESIDENT
Ron Montgomery
Intermountain Rigging & Heavy Haul
Salt Lake City, UT
VICE PRESIDENT
Alan Barnhart
Barnhart Crane and Rigging
Memphis, TN
TREASURER
Delynn Burkhalter
Burkhalter
Columbus, MS
ASSISTANT TREASURER
Bruce Forster
Rigging Gear Sales
Dixon, IL
ALLIED INDUSTRIES GROUP
CHAIRMAN
David Wittwer
, Hays Companies
Salt Lake City, UT
CRANE & RIGGING GROUP
CHAIRMAN
David Cowley
, TNT Crane & Rigging
Longview, TX
LADIES GROUP CHAIRWOMAN
Cathy Moore
, NBIS
Atlanta, GA
TRANSPORTATION GROUP
CHAIRMAN
Geary Buchanan
Buchanan Hauling & Rigging
Fort Wayne, IN
SC&R FOUNDATION
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT:
Robert Moore
NBIS
Atlanta, GA
VICE PRESIDENT:
Stephanie Bragg
Bragg Companies
Long Beach, CA
TREASURER:
Jim Sever
PSC Crane & Rigging
Piqua, OH
