TTIP Negotiations Touch on Interconnection, Licensing Requirements

Recent negotiations between the U.S. and EU on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) included telecom and e-commerce language, said the European Commission in a report released Thursday. During the TTIP meetings in Brussels July 11-15, the two sides "covered all provisions put forward by the EU and the US for the E-commerce chapter and many of the provisions of both sides on telecommunications," said the EC. "On telecommunications, the discussion addressed in particular licensing requirements, the role of the regulatory authority and interconnection," it said. "Both sides agreed on a detailed list of follow-up action items in order to achieve further progress at the next Round." Within discussions on information and communications technology, the EU said it's pleased by a "textual proposal on cooperation on market surveillance activities which intends to improve cooperation between enforcement authorities for products subject to radio and electromagnetic compatibility requirements." Among other issues were "e-labelling for electronic products with an integrated screen," encryption and spam.