Publication

This paper examines the opportunities and challenges regulatory cooperation and particularly the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) pose for consumer protection. To do this, the authors first review some of the EU’s past international agreements and its existing practices in international negotiations dealing with regulatory cooperation. They then look at the implications of the TTIP for regulatory cooperation and suggest that while the agreement could improve this type of cooperation, the US and the EU's different approaches to both regulation and cooperation could also present some challenges. Finally, they contend that while the TTIP will not significantly affect the legislative authority of EU and US legislators in the area of consumer protection, it could have an impact on agenda-setting in this area.