Summary

Dubbed the biggest trade deal in history by some observers, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is making headlines for all the wrong reasons again. Despite being under consideration since 2013 the passage of the agreement has been anything but smooth, dogged by objections from civil society groups, unions and politicians. The most recent minor setback has been the failure of Senate Democrats to authorize the fast-track legislation most observers agree the Obama administration will need if it is to have the negotiating freedom to sign off on an international trade agreement the size of the TTIP. That hiccup has been overcome but it leaves many observers worried that to clear Congress, any trade pact will be so diluted that many potential gains could evaporate.

So what are the actual benefits on offer for US economy if the agreement is ever ratified?