Germany's economic minister, SPD leader and deputy chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has promised to block any clauses in a trade deal between the European Union and the United States that go against the ideals of his center-left Social Democrats (SPD), including investor protection clauses wanted by the Americans.
He has told Sueddeutsche Zeitung in an interview published today
What the SPD doesn't want won't happen
The European Commission is trying to prevent differences on arbitration from blocking the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which would encompass almost half the global economy and could generate $100bln a year in additional economic output on both sides of the Atlantic.
Gabriel adds
We won't accept any pressure for further liberalization or privatization. We won't lower any social, environmental or consumer protection standards.And we will not -- I am completely sure of this -- see any privatization of arbitration
Reuters has more here
