Pacific trade deal holds key to TTIP’s fate

The chances of concluding an ambitious transatlantic trade deal are better following a lavish state dinner held at the White House in Washington for two non-European leaders. US President Barack Obama strengthened economic and security ties with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on 28 April, improving the chances of concluding this year an ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This could have direct positive repercussions for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks as well as the EU’s ongoing free trade…